Chapters A Thousand Years Later...
I awoke at a knock on the door, and I sighed as I dragged my head up as if it were a sack of bricks. My blue eyes ignited with hope, maybe today would be just a little different. It gets dull living in an abandoned area that once was lively, back in my childhood days. I stretched my arms out, answering the calls of the door. I wanted to stop going about my daily routine.
Wake up, breakfast, change, walk to work, work, return, sleep.
Nothing ever changed, and my job wasn't entirely amusing either. I paused as I passed the mirror, fluffing up my strangely coloured hair. It was light blue, lighter than the shade of my eyes. I always expected my family had dyed it when I was a child, but I couldn't even remember their faces. I shrugged, and sprinted to the door. As I touched the old, steel door knob, an unmistakable flow entered my veins. It was something that exceeded my own imagination... But it felt so familiar. "Magic..." I muttered. I shook my body, it couldn't be. Could it? I hesitantly rotated the knob, and slung it open. I gave a squeal, it was an army... Looking closer... An army of ponies? I turned, thinking repeatedly the same words, "I must've lost my sanity..."
"Your highness! We meant not to disturb you!" They gave a bow, and I replied with a nervous laugh. My mind could not process all this at once, and if there was one thing I knew, it was that I was going mad. Suddenly, my brain flicked a switch, and this all reminded me of that show I had once watched...
"The name, what was the name..." I questioned myself in low enough volume that they could not hear.
It was My Little Pony- Friendship Is Magic.
"Let me guess," I leaned on the door, "your here to tell me off for not having any friends? Haha!" God, at that moment I felt like the most obnoxious being that ever lived, but what I was about to do was even more so. I slammed the door, leapt up the stairs, ran to the attic and huddled in the corner. "Ugh! I didn't lock the door, and there were unicorns there! I'm such an idiot..."
"Princess!" One of them called, "we mean not to have frightened you, but your sister, Celestia, requests your presence!"
"I'm not a princess! And I don't have a sister!" I aggressively answered. I was an only child, though I did always want an older sister to watch over me.
"Please, Princess Luna, I beg of you. Your sister is unable to sleep as she must make sure both the moon and sun set and rise at accounted times... We are afraid she will lose her sanity!"
"SHE WONT BE THE FIRST!" I cried.
"Your highness? Um, I'm sorry but we simply must take you to the honourable land of Equestria. Celestia's orders..." His horn lit up with a blue aura, and a bright flash filled the room. It didn't last long though.
In the castle...
Celestia stared at her reflection through the glass, her eye bags darker than that of the night... Her sisters night. She curled up in a little ball, but snapped at herself. "No! I refuse to fall asleep, my land needs me!" There was a knock on the door, and a grey and orange pony entered, a chef hat barely balanced on his messy hair. His wings rapidly fell and lifted, he held a golden tray of which it's contents were a fancy meal that has a really long name I can't pronounce.
"Thank you, Moongleam, for the meal. I know it is most delightful as it always is."
"Thank you... But your highness, my sister is Moongleam... I'm Sunray?"
"Oh... I apologise, I'm a little tired. I guess my mind has gone a little funny."
"Your Highness, perhaps you should rest."
"And leave Equestria waiting for its Sun and Moon? I shan't, I Can't!" Sunray hung his head disappointedly, he had thought he could talk some sense into the Princess. "Oh, Sunray, fear not. I have called for my sister, then we may continue taking over our original times. Ah, she's here." A flash of light appeared behind the large, golden door, and a scream could be heard.
"What has thou done to me! Tis treason!" I yelled, my hooves stamping on the ground. You heard right, hooves. I was now trapped inside a dark blue alicorn body, with cyan hair and blue eyes. There was a tattoo on my rump, a tattoo of a black splatter and a crescent moon amongst the black.
"Why must I speak likest this?"
"Your original body, this, is used to talking like this..."
"Sister!"
"Must I repeat myself..."
"SilverLining."
"Must I repeat myself, SilverLining? I have not a sister, nor am I of royal blood!"
"Luna, my sister, what do you talk of?" I turned, falling to my hooves. My eyes darted towards the golden crown she wore.
"Princess..."
"She seems to have forgotten the land of Equestria and all in it."
"This is what a thousand years on the moon does to ponies?"
"On the moon? Thousand years? I was on Earth? As a human, with humans. For twenty years." Celestia gritted her teeth, levitated me and thrusted me onto my throne. She gave a grin, and joined me on mine.
A Thousand Years Later...
Celestia embraced me, her soft fur smelling like a summers day. "Luna. You have forgotten me, have you not?" Guilt pierced me in my guts, and I gently nodded.
"Yes... I know not of you. Nor do I know of this place..." She sighed to hear that.
"Understandable... Here." Her horn illuminated with a beautiful colour, lilac. My eyes filled with memories that the body had watched.
"But... Tia, We remember not of our spell... How will we raise our moon?" Celestia had the best poker face I had ever seen. I couldn't tell what she was thinking at all. The door suddenly interrupted, and Celestia gave a call.
"Enter!" A lavender pony trotted towards her, her purple and pink mane flowing in the breeze she had forged out of her rush.
"Oh, Luna. This is my former personal protégé, now Princess, Twilight Andromeda Sparkle."
"I don't really like the middle name, Princess. And you can just call me Twilight." She humbly said, grinning. "Wait, Luna and I have already met... My first day in Ponyville, Nightmare Night, My brother, Shining Armour and Cadence's wedding, and another multiple times to follow that?"
"Twilight, we must talk." The lavender alicorn galloped after her idol. Celestia's head poked out from behind the door, and she beamed as she told me to await her return. I cheerily nodded my head, my body filled with warmth. As she disappeared behind the wall, I darted to the balcony, and was met with the most beautiful sight. All of Equestria was there, right in front of her, in all of its glorious pride.
I spread my... Wings. God, I'm not used to saying that. I leapt of the balcony, soon regretting it. I flapped them hard, but I couldn't get airborne. My wings couldn't lift this body, and I was plummeting to the ground like a meteor... Only more gracefully, a shooting star, perhaps. I was seconds away from the ground... Milliseconds in fact. I trapped my breath tightly in my lungs, they were screaming out as I should've been. Gravity was not an ally... It never was.
I did fall, fall on top of a cyan blob. Puzzled, I looked closer at the blurry figure. "Who art thou?" I asked, placing the bottom of my muzzle upon my hoof.
"Uh, what?" It's voice was full of attitude and sass, anything but modest.
"I repeat, who art thou?"
"You don't recognise me? I'm Rainbow Dash. Element of loyalty. No no, don't thank me for saving you. But why didn't you fly?" I blushed a little, eyeing my useless wings.
"Well... I..."
"Did'ya clip them?"
My ears twitched, I could lie... It wouldn't be that embarrassing. Princess of the moon, Lunar Princess, of the rulers of Equestria, can't fly. I hid my face behind my wings before speaking.
"Indeed... I was making the moon rise when I hit a tree branch and fell on a *mutter mutter*"
"If I got my hooves on that *mutter mutter*, it would be in really big trouble!" Another voice yelled. Pinkie Pie, it was.
"Well, wanna spend the day with us?" Rainbow grinned, Pinkie Pie nodding quickly. I didn't have anything else to do, so I agreed. They tugged me and threw me on the wall. "We're pranking somepony. You know them."
"Celestia?"
"No, Discord. We found out his realm entrance is over there. That's why he knows everything bout the castle. We are going to..." They whispered their evil plot to me and how I was an advantage. It was perfect... Terrible, but perfect.
~~~
As they left the room, Celestia beamed as she told Luna to await her return. She then trotted after her student, she knew that Luna wasn't the kind to eavesdrop. "What is it, Princess?"
"Luna. Remember the changeling attack of Canterlot?"
"Yes, Your highness." Twilight replied.
"The love magic did not conquer Chrysalis, but one whom swapped identities with Chrysalis shortly after you and your friends went to retrieve the elements."
"So... Chrysalis lurks still in Canterlot?"
"No. She did . She took my place and attempted to banish me and my sister, Luna. Her power was cut short because of the love magic, however. She locked my sister onto the moon, but I interfered with her spell. I could not undo the banishment, only Chrysalis could, like the Trixie incident with the alicorn amulet. There was a magical lock connecting to the power sources." "I was unable to remove her from the moon and return to our realm, so I sent her to the land much like the one you visited. The one of Canterlot High, but slightly different. They call it, Earth."
"To her, it was 20 or so years, to us, a fortnight. I, myself, made a deal with Chrysalis. I would give her a piece of land outside Equestria for her hive to live in. They could strive for many years, and in exchange, she must never upset the balance of harmony of our land again. And if she did, she would be forced to meet the consequences of her crimes. She agreed. Harnessing all the power I had, and borrowing of the Sun, I managed to send a small army to Luna, to tell her to return. I gave a bit of my magic to a loyal guard so that they may be able to return with her. It seems having her magic taken away has made Luna forget Equestria and all she witness inside it. Strangely, my memory spell does not work with her... She remembers it all for a second, then it's like a vacuum sucks it all back in to the dark side of her mind to rot and be forgotten..."
Twilight clasped her hooves onto her mouth, it was tragic. It was more than tragic, it was impossible. Celestia lowered her head in sorrow and despair...
A Thousand Years Later...
I only left her for a second... Where could she be? Perhaps she heard me... Maybe she's upset, maybe she ran away!
Celestia fearfully paced up and down, looking at the empty throne as if expecting someone to just be there. Her mind kept thinking of different and, quite frankly, violent explanations such as 'Maybe an Ursa Major ate her...' Or 'Maybe Discord ate her... No, he's a cotton candy-terian...' Celestia continued to do so, before realising where she was. She just happens to be me, Luna. I was waiting in front of the door.
"Luna! Where were you?"
"With some pony called Rainbow Mash and Winkie Pie."
"Rainbow Mash? Winkie Pie?"
"Something like that. Do you identify them?"
"Yes. Also, why is your wing bandaged?"
"We clipped it when we painfully hit a tree branch and fell on a... *mutter mutter*... Do you recall?"
"No." She shook her head, ignoring my wink, "you don't have to lie, sister."
"We are NOT lying. Just... Twisting the truth a little? Nevertheless, embarrassing it is! Lunar Princess, Of the rulers of Equestria, bringer of the night, can't fly."
Celestia rolled her eyes and embraced me, then thrusted a black crown onto my head, a collar onto my throat and four black shoes. "Of which object are these?"
"They symbolise you as a princess. Obsidian and moonstone, I believe it's made of."
"And yours?"
"Gold and amethyst."
"Why not opal? You could have opal and I black Opal." I smiled, black opal is my favourite gemstone.
"You know what. That's not a bad idea!" Celestia beamed, "I will call the Royal Accessory Maker reluctantly. Now come, it is time to raise the moon and set the sun." I wearily nodded, trotting to the balcony.
Her horn was surrounded with a lilac aura, and I attempted to make mine too.
"Rise... Rise... Come on, moon..." I cursed under my breath, but no matter how hard I tried, the moon disagreed and stayed put. Celestia opened her left eye when the sun was out of sight, and searched for the moon in the skies, her eyes darting this way and that frantically. She sighed, and lifted the moon with her own powers. When I opened my own eyes, I was happier than anything.
"Tia! I did it!" Celestia hung her head in response. When she looked up, her eyes were wide, in shock. "Sister?"
"Your Cutiemark... Why is it-" I looked back on what I thought was a Cutiemark, the moon thingy on my hindquarters, but it was gone, slowly fading.
"My... Cutie...mark... Has... NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I cried, my hooves punching the sky aggressively, then resting on my head.
"I don't know how this could happen... Unless, because you failed to complete your talent... It's not your destiny anymore...but I have never witnessed such a thing happen..."
"Brilliant! I haven't a destiny now." I roared in annoyance, then galloped back to my throne.
"Wait, what am I talking about, I don't belong here. I'm not Princess Luna! I'm just, Luna. I can't use magic, I can't raise the moon! I have no sister and this isn't my life! I demand to return!" As I spoke, a black matter oozed out of my body.
"No..." I growled and hissed, and my eyes soon became white with anger. When they faded, I was no longer in Princess Luna's body, I was in a black alicorn's body. I was tall and slender, fangs for teeth, a slit pair of eyes. My mane was now a cloud of blue magic, and I, in confusion stepped back. "Nightmare Moon... Has taken my sister... Again..."
A Thousand Years Later...
I trotted through the Canterlot Gardens, the fragrance of the flowers was too much to ignore. My nose tickled for a while, but I noticed a rare flower growing in the corner. It was growing with no light, slightly dying. It was a unique one, there wasn't another in the whole garden like it. It had blue petals and a strange pattern on them. I smiled, picked its roots out of the soil and moved it to a more bright place under the gleam of the moon. Within it, I noticed a stranger pattern, it looked like... Princess Luna! I was hallucinating, I crushed the flower and galloped away. That was when a dark blur shot by me. I reared up, alarmed. It was fast, but not quick enough. I was fear, why would I let something so small frighten me. I shot a spell at it, stopping it in it's tracks. It was a creature I hadn't ever seen before. It has bat-like wings, and a slit eye as mine did. It seemed to be a foal, but I ignored it and left it there. It's creepy looking mother would take it soon. The next night, when I had awoken, I saw the creature, barely moved an inch since I had last met it. It sprinted to a box, the words 'Fragile' stamped onto the left side. There was a torn blanket inside, and a tiny note.
Dear The Pony Who Recieves This,
I know it is alarming to find a bat pony inside a box... But I can no longer care for him...I worry for his health, the war between the bat ponies and other races has made our young vulnerable... Please, give him a good home... You may name him as you wish, but please give him care...
It wasn't signed, and so, with a sigh, I levitated the little bat pony inside the castle and into my old chambers. I placed him gently on the newly made bed, and he instantly fell asleep. I felt my heart scream in adoration, and lifted my wing, thrusting it upon the colt,"Names... I'll have to think about that." I grinned as he rolled closer to me, then coughed. I realised the moon dust was still clinging to my coat, and the bat pony was dirty too. Carefully, I picked him up and placed him in the bath, the warm water running. I lay inside with him, watching him be entertained with every popping bubble. Levitating the shampoo towards us, I poured it out on his navy blue hair. "Dusk Shampoo..." I read aloud, "Dusk... Would you like to be Prince Dusk Of Equestria, little one?" He gave a happy little shriek, and I couldn't help but laugh. I didn't laugh in centuries... I couldn't laugh in centuries...
When the bath was over, I brushed his scruffy blue mane, noticing a heather streak in it. His coat was black, but slightly lighter than my own. His eyes were just like the dusk sky as well, the name fitted him perfectly. His leather wings were blue, and they had a liquid falling from it. My heart skipped a beat, I lifted it to see blood. He was injured, most likely from when he was in the box. He was a foal too... He would surely die from such an enormous wound. I knew what I had to do, I gave up a small amount of my magic, and gave it to him. His wounds began to heal quickly, at an abnormal speed.
I watched Dusk yawn, and he cuddled up to me as his here's began to heavy for him to keep open. I carefully levitated him to the bed, throwing my wing upon him again, and smiling as he fell asleep. I opened the chest and used my magic to bring my childhood plush. It was shaped like the moon? Though it was a little rusty, it still had its shape. I introduce it to him and put it in between his hooves.
My heart, once again, screamed in adoration.
A Thousand Years Later...
I entered the dungeons the next night, when Dusk was at Breakfast. I met glances with Celestia, who looked terrible. She hadn't slept, crying most likely. It was clear with just one look. She turned away sorrowfully when she realised who her visitor was. She couldn't look at me.
"Luna... I'm so sorry..." Was all she could say, and all she wanted to. I bowed my head respectfully.
"I imagine you would like to meet the newest member of my family."
"You would let me?"
"Yes. I am not inhumane." Her eyes filled with happiness, and she nodded quickly. A dark power unveiled on my horn, and a hologram of Dusk appeared.
"Is he yours?"
"I adopted him. I found him abandoned, part of an unknown race."
"The bat ponies..."
"You know of them?"
"Yes. They have been in several wars over the past fifty decades. The changelings, the Griffons, and the Dragons have all have fought against them. The reason is long lost. There has been some rumours that all three are planning to join forces to extinguish the race." I was quite taken aback by this... It was frightening. My horn illuminated and I thrusted a gorgeous and mouth-watering dish in front of her.
"I repeat, I'm not inhumane." She smiled.
"Your still in there, Luna."
"It is Nightmare Moon!" And with that, I galloped out.
~~~
I trotted to the court, it was so all could recognise me as the heir to the throne, and to make me Empress there. A blue and white pony sat on the seat opposite me.
The Royal Guards stood, surrounding me. "Greetings, Nightmare Moon. If you would stand, we will begin the court session." I nodded, and did so, "Captain Shining Armour of the Royal Guard..." The blue and white pony stood.
"I, Shining Armour, Captain Of The Royal Guard, hereby swear eternal loyalty to you, Empress Nightmare Moon, and will serve you with my life, as I did with her highness Celestia." The last word made my eye twitch, but I ignored it.
"Is there anything you wish to declare?"
"As Empress Of Equestria, I decree that the royal family will be no more. Though the following alicorns, The honourable Twilight Andromeda Sparkle and Mi Amore Cadenza, may keep their wings and horns, they shall have their magic stripped to the same levels as a normal unicorn. Their titles will also be stripped, and I wish that you recognise my son, Dusk, as the prince of Equestria. His authority is second to my own. That is all, you are all dismissed."
A Thousand Years Later...
[Dusk's View]
We sat together, Twilight Sparkle and I. The night sky was sparkling with gems, floating up there. "I shall never understand why everything up there isn't affected by gravity, no matter how less gravity there." I stated, Twilight nodding her head in agreement.
I looked at the book, it had a reference to a constellation I noticed. Twilight peered over my shoulder, realising I was intrigued by something within it.
"What is it, Dusk?" I pointed upwards, than back to the page.
"There is going to be a meteor shower."
"What? Fantastic observation! I didn't notice those signs!" I blushed a little.
Twilight sat back beside me, stretching her wing around me. If there was a maximum to blushing, mine would have hit maximum. I unfolded my own leathery wings, stretching it over her. Suddenly, she folded hers back.
"Oh, I'm sorry, that was awkward." She laughed nervously, I shook my head, pulling my diary towards her slightly. "Are you sure I should read it?"
"As sure as I've ever been." She grinned in reply, then let her eyes dart among the last entry. She threw her hoof onto her mouth, and for a second I regretted what I had done then. That was until she pounced over me and hugged me. She threw her own lips onto mine, and I accepted.
At that moment, the sky was filled with the bright light of a meteor shower.
"Watch this." I smiled, flapping my wings. My eyes went white, and a meteor shot towards me. Twilight lifted her hoof to protest, but when the meteor suddenly broke apart, exploding with light like a firework, her heart filled with warmth. When I fell back to the floor, I embraced her. "I love you. I can't deny it."
"Nor can I." She replied. I looked at the large clock that located in the middle of ponyville.
"Oh, I'm late. Rarity told me I had to go with her to a picnic with her friends."
"Funny enough, I'm invited!" Her eyes sparkled as she said that, and I loved her even more.
"Then let's go!" I placed my wing around her as we walked towards the park.
The picnic was simple, a few sandwiches and a cake.
I met a few other ponies there, a delightful farm pony named Applejack and her sister, Applebloom, a lightning fast Pegasus named Rainbow Dash and her flightless younger sibling, Scootaloo, A sweet Pegasus named Fluttershy and Party Pony Pinkie Pie. They are all very kind, each representing a former element of harmony.
"I think it's very kind of you to raise animals in need in your shelter, Fluttershy." I said stated with a smile.
"And she's got the best pets you'll ever see! Right Tank?" Rainbow Dash smiled, throwing her hoof over Fluttershy's shoulder.
"I'm flattered..." She spoke softly, in a soothing voice.
"Anyway, Dusk, where were you and Twilight? You were late by half an hour!"
"Oh, me and Dusk were up on the mountain, reading up on the constellations. He predicted the meteor shower!"
"How romantic. Right Y'all?"
"Wait, what?" Twilight, taken aback by the sudden statement, asked.
"Well, you did come with your wings around each other... Guess we just thought-"
"Your correct." She smiled, looking at me with her hopeful expression. I nodded in reply.
"Indeed you are." Rainbow had her hoof at her chest, with a sort of touched face, but as soon as the others looked at her, she stopped.
"Come on, Crusaders! Prince Dusk has the most AMAZING cutie mark, you need to see it!" SweetieBelle led them towards me.
"Sweetie, I do believe your embarrassing our guest." I blushed in remark to them, but agreed to show them.
"Look! It's a diamond with two swords!"
"It's a shield with two swords." Twilight corrected.
"Is your mane real?" Scootaloo pondered, climbing me to touch my hair.
"Yes... Mother gave me alicorn magic when I was younger so that I would be recognised as a prince. That's what makes my mane contain a galaxy of stars."
"Mother?"
"The Empress." Twilight gave a gasp, then used her magic to tug me away for a moment.
"What is your mother going to say about us? She detests me!"
"De...tests?" I cocked my head to the left.
"A thousand years ago, I released Nightmare Moon from her dark magic and turned her back to Princess Luna."
"Princess...Luna?"
"You don't know?"
"I read a few history books about it but... Luna is Nightmare Moon?"
"Yes. She hates me because I rescued her from the dark magic and the evil forces now."
"You know about Celestia, your aunt, correct?"
"No..." At that moment Twilight gave a gasp.
"If you don't know about your aunt, then Celestia must have lied when she said she had a plan to us... I'm such a fool, we've been so relaxed thinking Celestia would do something!
"Who on Equestria is Celestia?"
"This May take some time." And with that, Twilight explained everything to me.
A Thousand Years Later...
[Still Dusk's view]
We hurried, our hooves stamping on the ground. "Chariot, Please!" I called to the royal guards. They shook their head. I sighed, throwing my regal crown onto my sweating head. "Please?" They then gasped and nodded.
Rainbow Dash fell into fits of laughter, but silenced by a "Be quiet!" By Rarity. We hopped into the Chariot.
"There's not enough space on the chariot for 9 ponies and six pets."
"Sweetie?"
"Applebloom?"
"Scoots?"
"We have to come and save Equestria!" They said altogether.
"What If I promise, I come back and become a Crusader? Then I can help you get a royal Cutiemark!" I smiled at their gasps and rapid nods.
"We'll be the WAIT FOR DUSK CRUSADERS, YAY!" They yelled happily and we placed the six pets onto their hooves.
"Now, Guards?" They shook his head in reply.
"Pony feathers." Was Applejack's annoyed remark.
"That's it!" I threw Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rarity onto the Chariot.
"Now we can." And the guards flew with them on the chariot.
"What about us?"
"You forget." I showed them my wings, and they gave an "oohhh." In reply. I used my magic to make them all as fast as Rainbow for a temporary time.
"Let's go." And with that, we pushed off to become airborne. We were extremely close to the chariot when I heard,
"Magnificent! Simply magnificent!" Rarity smiled.
"Best view I've ever seen!"
"Reminder of the plan, please!" Pinkie screamed, throwing a moustache on her muzzle.
"Uh, Find Celestia, release her, and..." I hung my head, "confront my mother."
~~~
The guards at the front of the castle stared at us as we arrived. "Good Night, Gentlestallions. Keep to your posts until you are relieved, that is all."
They bowed their heads respectfully. As we entered the castle, Twilight turned to me.
"You know this castle better than anyone... It sure looks different from Celestia's reign. We need you to guide us to the dungeons to get to Celestia to bring back day!"
"It's not going to happen." A voice called from behind us.
"Shining Armour? I haven't seen you for years! BBBFF!"
"Twilight Sparkle... The rebel and her rebel friends. Prince Dusk? I didn't think you would join forces with these peasants."
"Be careful what you say against the royal family. You'll regret it."
"But your against the royal family, aren't you? I have sworn my life to protect the empress, whatever the cost."
"Shining?"
"It's Captain Shining Armour to you, sister!" I saw her eyes swell up with tears, and my heart ignited with anger. He shot a spell at her, but she dodged it.
"Twilight, Girls! Find the dungeons NOW, I'll take care of mister disrespectful Armour here."
"But, Dusk-"
"Go!" And they ran with all their might.
Shining Armour and I circled each other.
"You don't have a horn to cross, now do you. I guess we'll just have to go with blades." Shining Armour spat out.
"I guess we must."
My eyes illuminated with a bright light, and an object appeared by me. It was a sparkling sword, with curls around the iron. His turned into a blue one with a spark on the handle.
"Allow me to have the first move." I slung my blade at him, but he blocked it with his own. He then thrust it at me, but I dodged his failure of an attack. He charged at me with all power, but I lifted myself up with my wings.
"I see, you have fallen in love with a peasant. The worst peasant there can be, My sister."
"I WILL NOT SIT IDLY BESIDE SUCH A FOOL GIVING SUCH FOOLISH REMARKS ON THE MOST PRECIOUS STAR IN THE SKY!"
I was surrounded by a sphere of deep blue magic. My eyes were complete white, my mane flowing with no breeze noticeable. Shining Armour sat in awe. When the sphere faded, my expression turned to full anger, my eyes still white, my wings now decorated with a constellation of stars as my mane did.
He dropped with one blow. One movement, and he would have been killed. Problem was, I'm not the monster they all expected of me.
"Goodbye, Shining Armour." I teleported him to the dungeons, the lowest one, beside the cell of Celestia.
A Thousand Years Later...
[Dusk's View]
I hurried after the six ponies, my wings healing from the wound. "I'm so stupid! They don't know where the dungeons are!" Galloping through the corridors, I found they were not anywhere I could find. I decided to find Celestia myself, and worry about getting them afterwards. "I'm sorry..." I felt like I was betraying them, but even so, I ran to the lowest dungeon. I knew that was where she was, it was the most protected dungeon. It needed an alicorn's magic to open. With Twilight's alicorn magic disabled, and Celestia's Unicorn and Pegasus magic removed, I knew I had to release her. I had my mother's magic in me myself.
I made my way to the lowest dungeon, and called for her. "Celestia? Princess Celestia?"
"Who... Are you?"
"Aunt Celestia! It's me, Dusk! I'm releasing you from the cell! You won't worry anymore!"
"Wait! Don't come near me!"
"Why? Aunt please, I need to rescue you!" I cantered towards the cell, throwing my hooves on the bars. Suddenly, a magic spell backfired from the bars, and I fell, losing my pulse, and coming into an unconscious state.
~~~
Twilight's mind kept flicking back to the moment when Dusk shiverously made them run while he fought, not wanting to risk their own lives. He was her night in shining armor. Shining Armor... She hung her head, her own brother, her own kin, her own BBBFF... Called her a peasant.
He had changed. Even his eyes had changed colour. "Wait, Colour?" His blue eyes were not blue... But red.
That was when the six ponies saw him. Dusk was lying on the floor, his eyes shut. The only thing moving was his chest.
"Twilight? Girls? She let you keep your Alicorn body?"
"Minus the magic, yes. We cannot see you, dear, where are you, your highness?"
"Heh, it's been a long time since I last heard that. 'Your Highness' has lost her highness."
She showed herself, a simple, snow-white earth pony with light pink hair and lilac eyes. They all gave a gasp, then looked at Dusk, wondering which scenario was worse. Twilight was sitting on the floor beside her loved one, crying. "Twilight," her eyes twitched, and she looked at Celestia tearfully, "Remember that healing spell I taught you years ago?" She nodded.
"It won't be of use. I haven't my alicorn magic. It's much too dangerous to perform. I could kill him-"
"Or you could save him. You haven't a choice, dear. Let him die or live and love." Twilight hung her head, then nodding.
"I will play my part." Her magic suddenly burst, it's purple aura gliding around the barely living body. "It's his heart... The magical outbreak caused heart failure. All I need is to start it up again..." She gave a quiet shriek and stood back. Dusk's eyes slowly opened, he looked around him, and galloped towards the lavender alicorn.
"Now you healed my heart, though you stole it the moment I set eyes on you."
"And the cheesiness hit maximum." Rainbow Dash giggled, only to be met with a slap from Applejack.
"Do I hear a fly abuzzin'? It sure is annoyin' me, how bout y'all." And they all nodded their heads in agreement.
"What? Where! I love insects! They're so...sweet...and...never mind." Fluttershy whimpered, the others shushing her.
"Don't you think that you should, well, I dunno, rescue the darn princess so we can have a darn super duper darn epic par-tay?" Dusk nodded his head, walking towards the cage. His eyes went white, and a creaking noise echoed through the dungeons.
Celestia was free.
~~~
Nightmare Moon shrieked, rushing towards the secret passage that remained secret for a millennia unend. She slung her hoof frantically like a madpony, trying to remove the cobwebs from around her. Somebody had indeed gone through her magical key that contained Celestia... But only alicorn magic could do so... Unless. It couldn't be, her own son? She shook her head, besides, he was I'm Ponyville. She unfolded her wings and galloped towards the exit, trying to locate where her enemy would be.
~~~
"Thank you, my nephew. Please, excuse me while I turn to a place that will come to use for us. Confront Nightmare Moon, I will retrieve it and return." They nodded as she cantered out. Dusk turned to them.
"Let's go." They ran out, intent on finding the chambers of the monster. "Rainbow Dash, go with Rarity and Twilight. Fluttershy, Pinkie and Applejack, come with me." They nodded their heads, all except one.
"But... Why can't I come with you?" Twilight said, her eyes pleading.
"I know, but the ponies without defensive magic must use all it has. I have the same amount of half of all Equestria's ponies, so I should have the majority of the Earth or Pegasi? You and Rarity should protect Rainbow and each other. Please, don't do anything rash."
"Alright! My group is now dubbed Team P and Twilight's Team T!"
"Why is ours P?" Fluttershy whispered.
"What's the first letter in Pinkamena, huh?" They rolled their eyes and they split up.
They hadn't gone a metre before Dusk sensed something. See, when Nightmare Moon gave up a little of her magic, She forged a link between them. This made them sense when each other is near. Maybe he could use that link to send a message to his mother... It was worth a try.
"Mother... there is a Group within the castle walls set on eliminating you. I must protect you, where are you?"
"...Throne..."
That's all she said. They followed Dusk as he threw himself into the throne room.
"Son. You are pitiful. I knew you entered the dungeons half an hour ago. We have a link, I can sense everything you do."
"So... You let me take Aunt Celestia?"
"Indeed. And don't call her that, the simple beginning 'Celest' makes me puke. The whole name plus Aunt?"
She gave a fake shudder.
"I'm done playing, mother. I shall not let you destroy the beautiful blossom of Equestria! I shall let it bloom! But it needs sunlight! I beg of you, mother. Please, no more night!
I can't even see you anymore. The pony who took me in, the pony who raised me? Where is my mother?"
"Your mother? That bat pony probably died years ago. She's probably rotting in some valley far from Equestria."
"Not that mother... I do not want Nightmare Moon. I want Luna. She is the one who is fit for the crown!" His eyes went white as he levitated a black crown to her, the one she had worn as a princess.
"Where did you find that?" She snapped, throwing it to the ground.
"See, mother? You too are blind from all the darkness. This crown is the one I wear on my head each day. Only now do I recognise it as the one you once did."
"YOUR NO FIT TO BE PRINCE! YOUR NO FIT TO BE A CITIZEN OF EQUESTRIA, ALL YOU SEE IS THE BAD SIDE OF MY BEAUTIFUL NIGHT? THE DAY ISNT PERFECT EITHER? THE BLINDING RAYS OF THE SUN? YOU WANT THAT BACK?"
She slapped him on the cheek for the first time, and his head stayed to the left as he spoke the final statement in a quiet voice. At that moment, The other three ponies of Team T came to join them.
"You misunderstand. We don't want the day back. We simply want two things. They want Luna back. I want my mother back."
"As do I." A graceful voice spoke, and they all turned their heads. Celestia stood at the door.
"Where is the object you said you would retrieve?"
"Pardon me, I should've said army, and niece." She slung the door open further, and Cadence stood their, smiling. Celestia pointed at the window, and the ponies hurried towards it. They saw an army of bat ponies looking back up to them.
"Well, Luna? We were meant to rule together. We were happy. Remember all those ponies who spent their lives devoted to the night sky?"
"What?"
"Astronomy?"
"Never heard of it."
"Oh mother it is simply divine! It's the study of the night sky!"
"Stargazing."
"I..."
"Ponies love the night sky... But the world cannot live in eternal night! The crops wither, the ponies develop colds, influenza. Sister, please! I know your in there!"
"I'm... I'm... not your sister! " it was clear she was about to attack, so without thinking, Dusk pounced on her, breaking the window that was behind her and falling with her.
"Mother... Couldn't you see the light?"
Suddenly, a sphere of light blue magic appeared, similar to that of Dusk's power charge, and Nightmare Moon remained stuck inside it as they fell. She stared fearfully back at Dusk, her eyes slowly returning from slit to normal, her mane turning from a cloud of blue mist to a cyan mane, and black coat turning dark blue. Then, to startle Dusk even more, tonnes of black, dark magic threw out of her, through her eyes. Finally when Dusk realise who was at the bottom (millions of bat ponies), all he could say was,
"Pony feathers."
A Thousand Years Later...
[Luna's View]
I awoke, my body was like a burden. I dragged myself out of the hospital wing- wait, hospital wing?
"Oh good, Princess, you've awaken!" A jolly nurse smiled, Tenderheart, i believe.
"It's Empress... Wait, is that-"
"Yup! Thanks to you, the cycle has turned back to normal. Day, night, day, night. Unless Princess Celestia goes crazy and makes it day forever." I sighed, staring at my injuries.
"When am I being discharged."
"Tonight- oh I'm sorry, I so used to it now. Day. Today."
"Where is my son." I screamed, noticing the fact he wasn't crying beside me.
"..."
"I demand to know!"
"Your son has been in a coma for a mighty long time now... Most folk think he's dying." A familiar voice said plainly.
"Applejack, really? Your thing is honesty, yeah I know, and I have said this before, but really?"
The ponies all entered... All but one certain lavender alicorn.
"Where is Twilight?"
"She hasn't moved an inch, darling. She's stayed right by Dusk for how long now." Rarity entered behind them. My eyes dimmed.
"Where is he."
"Princess Luna, your in no condition to travel-"
"I want to know where he is."
"He's in my spare chamber." Celestia entered.
"Take me to him. Please, sister, if he's dying I want to be beside him."
"But I need to ask you something. How did you turn Shining Armour and the guards against us?"
"A hypnosis spell, now please?" Celestia nodded, and lead me to the chamber.
He lay on the sheets, Twilight next to him. His stars in his mane had now become very faint, so faint they were hardly viewable. Twilight, unaware that we were here, fell to the floor, crying.
"How did I live, and he end up like this?"
"He gave up the alicorn magic inside him to ensure his mother lived. He hit the ground before he could fully give you the magic. That is why he is in a coma and not dead. He still has a tiny bit of magic."
"I must return his magic!"
"No, that magic is what you're currently living off. Give it up and you'll die. He wouldn't want that."
"The... Elements?"
Twilight's ear flickered. "The elements. We can use the element of magic to give him some more life force!"
"It could work! I didn't think of it! Do it at once!" Twilight nodded, hope in her heart, and ran out. Her destination, the tree of harmony, more specifically, the elements. Even more specifically? The element Of Magic.
A Thousand Years Later...
Chapter 14- Wings Of Destiny- FINALE
A Thousand Years Later...
I entered the room to find Twilight reading a book. I did not see and was, frankly, unaware that under her unfolded wing, a filly sat, fascinated.
"And Snow White nibbled on the apple and began to feel rather faint. A few minutes later, she had collapsed onto the floor and- are you... Shivering, Dear?"
"It's just... So violent. Why would the evil pony poison the apple?"
"Greed drives ponies to do bad deeds. Oh, greetings, Luna! Come to meet your granddaughter and grandson, I presume?"
"Yes, Twilight, I have indeed." She lifted her wing, smiling, and as she did so, she unveiled a tiny, heather coloured filly. She had blue eyes and a purple mane.
"Dusk is out teaching our little colt to fly, but she already knows."
"You haven't mentioned her name." I beamed.
"Meet Dawn. Outside is Vespere."
"What does Vespere mean?"
"It's a long lost language named Latin, it means Evening."
"You really like the times of the night and day, don't you?"
"It's a family thing. Let me see where Dusk is, maybe I can show you Vespere. Coming, Dawn?"
"No thanks, I would like to finish this story."
"But we read it twice."
"It's interesting."
"Suit yourself."
"It's strange, is he a Pegasus?"
"Not really. He has bat like wings and is super fast when he runs, like an alicorn. Dawn has a horn, but her magic is as powerful as an alicorn. She was able to lift Celestia up with a single spell last time she came to visit... She wasn't too happy. Heh."
"You can do it! Just leap off! Then flap your wings!"
"I am! It's no use! I'll fall!"
"I'll catch you!"
"Uh, Dusk, I'm not sure that's how you-"
"I can... I am... I'm flying mum! Look, mother look!"
"I'm looking. This is Vespere." I stared at the strange coat. He had a dark blue coat and light black hair. He did have bat like wings. Strangely, he could fly fast, as fast as an alicorn.
"Wait for me!" A voice called out from behind me. It was Dawn. She ignited her horn with enormous power that flooded through the atmosphere, and she lifted herself up with her levitation spell.
"I can't fly as fast as you!" She laughed with her brother.
"Your not flying, your hovering!"
"Same thing!"
"Is not!"
"Same thing!"
"Is not! Hey, who's that pretty pony down below? INCOMING!" He threw himself down beside me. "Good day!"
"Your Grand Mother, Princess Luna."
"Good Day, Grandma! I'm actually a prince myself on both sides. Prince Vespere The First!"
"Prince of everything unprincely!" Dawn laughed.
Dusk turned to hear a voice calling him. Three voices. Three young mares.
"You owe us a crusade, remember?" Scootaloo called.
"But you have your cutiemarks?"
"Do they look ROYAL to you?" They joked.
"Well, why don't you take Dawn and Vespere? They haven't got their cutiemarks."
"What a great idea! Come on, My little ponies! Let's go an adventure. WE HAVE NO CLUE CRUSADERS, YAY!" They shouted joyously, Dawn and Vespere galloping after them.
The End.
A Thousand Years Later...
I stared in awe at myself, I had completely transformed. Black slime was sticking to my dark blue coat, my eyes slitting. I felt my canine's sharpen and my mane turn into a cloud of blue smoke. I turned to Celestia, frightened. My fur was now dyed black, so I retreated in fear.
Dark mist enshrouded me, and I could hear whispers. It told me, "Look at her, she's taken your place as Queen of the night. Just like a thousand years ago, she didn't learn from history... She's the one everypony loves and cares for. They adore her... You? Not so much. She's trying to replace you... It would do little difference if you hadn't returned to Equestria any way..."
"No! I do a lot for Equestria! What am I talking about! SHE does a lot for Equestria, the real pony who owns this darn body." I protested.
"You do, Luna. You should be Empress Of Equestria, not Princess Of The Night. You deserve it, and you would do a better job of Empress than Co-ruler. Look at the sky, it's not even as beautiful. Remind yourself of what you witnessed Luna. Remember... Remember..." The mist surrounded me wherever I looked. I tried to flee, but it dragged me back. The mist flew into my mouth, and infected my soul. I soon recalled every single thing I had seen.
"My beautiful, jewelled sky shall reign... In an immortal night!" All the jealousy Luna... I had once felt, all those memories of the time I was stuck in the moon poured into me. Finally, the mist faded away, and I saw Celestia's worried face.
"My sister...has turned... Into Nightmare moon...again..." Celestia screamed tearfully, watching me smirk.
She turned and galloped as fast as she could, her wings unfolded. She knew just as well as I that there was no way I could return, the elements will banish me to the moon again... The elements of harmony renewed Luna last time after one thousand years. This time I WAS dark magic, I would be destroyed... There, was no way I could have killed the dark magic that devoured me...
Celestia knew what she was doing, she was going to attempt to use all the magic of harmony in Equestria to banish me... I wasn't going to the moon for another thousand years... I just couldn't. I predicted her moves, and she shot a lightning bolt at me. I made it evaporate the second it was suppose to hit me. She teleported herself away, and I lost her for a moment.
Suddenly, an explosion flared in the corner of my eye, and a crying Celestia used all the harmony of Equestria to banish and abandon her own sister... Me.
Before I could mournfully give a cry in protest, I was locked in the moon...
A Thousand Years Later...
The heavy chains forced me to the ground, tightly stuffing the metal of each ring inside my body. I was in so much pain, any movement and it would go deeper.
I knew that it was going to get worse, just wait for the hunger, thirst and infections in my wounds began to kick in.
I watched Equestria continue to orbit the Sun. I watched how the moon tried to orbit Equestria, how eager it was for Equestria to love it... And yet it continued to adore sister's sun. My eyes began to sting with pain. Bitter, sour pain. I couldn't cry, even so. My tears froze as they fell, and once they hit the ground, they were as hard as a crystal.
The chain pulled my hooves down, making sure I couldn't walk or retreat into a more comfortable position, another around my neck, making sure I couldn't scream nor lay my head on the cold rock. One around my back too, to stop me from flight. The last lay tightly on my snout, making sure there was no possible way I could even yell, cry or yawn. My teeth ached, all I wanted was love... I continued to cry the crystallised tears, my eyes following them as they dropped and hit the ground. That clink sound made my ears twitch, and I tried to smile, that was the way you fight fear.
I attempted to use a spell to turn me smaller than moon dust, but the enchanted chains clung tighter even, so I stayed like so, not moving.
You know what's was funny?
I didn't regret a thing
~~~
Celestia stared, wide eyed, at the spot her sister had once stood.
"When will this madness end? What is the reason for the jealousy, the sorrow?" The princess repeated to herself, turning and looking at the three statues of four beautiful and regal alicorns that decorated the door.
She was on the left, her sister on the right, Cadence on the lower left, Twilight on the lower right. All Celestia wanted was to destroy the statues... She couldn't face Equestria again... She couldn't say I'm sorry, Equestria, Princess Luna went mad again, hence sent to the moon! Go about your daily business! , ponies would start to think she was causing it, go against her.
She would have to repeat what she had done last time. She, trembling, walked to the balcony. With a soft apology to Luna, her horn illuminated with lilac, and slowly, the pages that held Luna evaporated, the statue as well, and the memory of the Lunar Princess was erased from all their minds.
When it was done, Celestia did something she never did, something so terrible... She used it on herself, so she would stop living the tragedy over and over again.
A Thousand Years Later...
A Thousand Years Later...
Celestia allowed the Sun to rise as she had done for all the years her reign had been founded. She beamed as her new chef entered the room, in a ball of levitation magic was a tray.
"Thank You, MintFragrance. I presume it's the new soup I ordered?"
"Tomato and a hint of lemon soup... I added a secret ingredient. I hope your royal lips will enjoy it."
"I'm sure they will." She smiled, her eyes sparkling as she sipped it. When she had paused, she looked over MintFragrance, her green hair covering her frightened eyes. "It's wonderful. Pray tell, what is this ingredient?"
"Your doom." Celestia felt her muscles and joints freeze, and she began to panic. MintFragrance smirked, and transformed into Nightmare Moon.
"Who are you?" The dark mare tutted, her wings unfolding as she stepped closer to the white alicorn.
"Hath thou forgotten me? The Lunar Princess?" She put on a fake mask of innocence.
"Pardon me?"
"Many apologies, you will know me as Her Highness, The Empress Of Equestria. You will address me as such, sister."
"How dare you? You shall never dethrone me!"
"Let's see about that. It won't be hard. You are paralysed. The best way to torture a royal. I know,"
She threw her hooves onto her wings, ensure direct contact with her curse. Her horn ignited a dark colour, and suddenly, Celestia gave cries of agony. The Royal Guards threw themselves into the throne room, but the magical atmosphere was too large, and they were forced to fall by the gravitational increase.
Celestia's horn began to fade, followed by her wings. Her magical hair too had suddenly turned into a short, pink mane. The regal Cutiemark on her flank had disappeared, and the princess was unconscious.
The pain had obviously been great, and Nightmare Moon couldn't help but feel sorry for her. "Be glad I didn't kill you, and I did not show mercy." Her horn enveloped itself once more with a dark blue colour, and the princess was sent to the dungeon.
"Oh, and one more thing..." Celestia had been stripped to the same size as that of Rarity or Applejack, Pinkie or Rainbow, or Fluttershy.
I should fix my pronouns, shouldn't I? Alright, fine... Though it pains me, I shall.
Nightmar- I destroyed Celestia's throne with a shot of lightening. The Guards stared in utter terror, the pony was destroying the castle... Vandalising. Where were Cadence? Twilight? That was when they recognised it . Celestia's Knowledge-Removing Spell had been disabled, and they instantly recognised me.
Nightmare Moon, Mare Of The Moon...
A Thousand Years Later...
The magic I had given Prince Dusk made his mane sparkle with a galaxy of stars, but did not flow. I allowed him to begin traveling Equestria as a royal duty. The following is the journal he kept.
Dear Diary,
My mother has now allowed me to go around Equestria as my royal duty for a year now. I have visited Manehatten, Saddle Arabia, Cloudsdale and multiple others. I am currently in Ponyville, or rather, in the chariot to Ponyville. I have been informed that a former princess and Demi-Alicorn resides there. Twilight Sparkle, I believe. Ponyville has now come to view. It's rather colourful, and it seems the residents have thrown a parade. I know not if this is so, for the darkness makes it hard to read the large banner. We have come close enough to notice the sign indeed says Welcome Prince Dus... Dus, perhaps they couldn't fit in the K. I am to stay here for thirty days. I believe I will enjoy it here. We are now close to landing, so I shall stop writing for the night.
Signed, Dusk Of Equestria.
Dear Diary,
My suspicions are correct, the banner was suppose to hold the words Welcome Prince Dusk, however they were unable to squeeze it all in. I am now in the house of the generous Miss Rarity. Though she sounded rather... Desperate for me to enter her house, I believe it's just her nature to be so welcoming. She says I should rest, for her friends were joining for a picnic tomorrow and she wanted me to go. I politely accepted, and I have become rather large friends with her younger sibling, SweetieBelle. The young filly hasn't a cutie mark yet, and I smiled as I showed her mine. It is plain, A shield with two swords. She was impressed, claiming it was a royal cutie mark. She's very sweet. I must go now so I am able to wake for the picnic.
Signed, Dusk Of Equestria
Dear Diary,
Tonight, I met the Demi-alicorn, Twilight Sparkle. She is indeed kind, and talented with magic. She has lavender fur, and beautiful eyes. I must say, I was in a small trance when meeting her. When she bowed, I simply told her formalities were not needed, and she could simply call me Dusk. I have unknown feelings for this pony... Her beauty is ever so much. I enjoyed her presence exceedingly. Perhaps I have fallen in love, and perhaps I'm just an idiot under a crown. We share the same interests too, reading, stargazing. She promised she'd give me a lesson on astronomy, I was always giving my own lessons, I never got to learn. A new experience is always good. I can't fall in love with her... Mother dislikes her. I simply can't.
Signed, Dusk Of Equestria.