I watch helplessly outside my body, watch myself being taken over by the nightmare, transforming into the very evil I swore to protect my people from. ‘There will be only one princess of Equestria, and that will be ME!’ Is this really what had become of me? I watched myself attack my own sister, destroy what was once my home. As Nightmare Moon chased Celestia, all I could do is watch. I cried out to myself ‘Please stop! You don’t want this!’ but witnessed Celestia be shot to the ground! ‘Sister!’ I almost started to cry! But then, everything became white. ‘Luna…..’ ‘Who is there?’ I shrieked, unaware of anyone else’s presence but my own. ‘Luna……..wake up!’ Wake up? Is this nothing but a dream?
Celestia is trying to shake me awake. ‘Luna! Wake up!’ she called out. I finally awaken. When I look at her, she looks worried. ‘Whatever is the problem, sister?’ I ask.
Celestia gave a small smile and says, ’Nothing. I just thought you might have had another one of those nightmares you’ve been having, judging by the tears running from your eyes.’
I look at the clock and realize that it is almost 5:30 PM. ‘I guess I should raise the moon and start my shift.’
Celestia nods and leads me outside. I focused all my magic into my horn. Come on Luna! Just a little bit further! And finally, the moon was in the sky! ‘Isn’t it beautiful?!’ I say. Celestia nods her head in agreement.
Celestia says, ‘Well, I better rest for the night. Good luck on duty!’
‘Thank You!’ I reply.
As she heads for her room, I gaze upon my beautiful night! The cool breeze and the shimmering light of stars. How could anypony not enjoy the beauty of the night. No, don’t think like that! You remember what happened last time you thought such. Just stay calm and watch over for danger.
I watch for quite some time, but decide to give my legs some work. I am about to go, when I see a shadow lurking through Canterlot. Celestia would stay hidden and try to find out what it is doing here. Hehe. Good thing I’m not Celestia! I’ll handle this problem MY way! I fly down towards the creature hidden by its shadow. When I could get a clear image of it, I was sure that I had seen it somewhere, but where? I land on the ground and confront it head on.
I announce my arrival, ‘I am Princess Luna of Equestria! Who are you and what is your purpose of being here!’ I take a good look at her. Her coat is coal black and her mane is a sickly green color. She is covered with uncomfortable looking holes and wears a small crown on her head, a sign of royalty!
When she looks at me, she is surprised, ‘Princess? I thought there were only two Princesses in Equestria, Celestia and Cadenza!’
Am I honestly that forgettable? I know I have been gone for a thousand years but still! ‘You must be mistaken. I am The Princess Of The Night! My sister and I have been ruling Equestria for centuries! Who are you?’
The sickly mare rises up and pins me down faster than the eye could see. ‘Hello then, princess. I am Chrysalis, Queen of the changelings. Say, I didn’t know Cadenza had a sister! You look nothing alike!’
Cadence’s sister!? Do I really look so weak to this mare! I’ll show her weak! ‘I am the sister of Princess Celestia!.’
Mentioning Celestia seemed to have made her grin. ‘Well, I guess it will be easier to take Equestria from Celestia’s baby sister then.’
Take Equestria! She must be that mare who impersonated Cadence before her wedding! I will show her how strong “Celestia’s baby sister” really is!
I fly up and shoot a beam from my horn. She dodges it and shoots some of her own. As the graceful mare I am, I dodge them with ease.
‘You mustn’t be much of a strategist, trying to invade all on your own like this!’ I say as she tries to hit me.
She responds anyway, ‘Do you honestly think I had a choice!’ She fires another at my head, misses and continues, ‘All my people are weak! How about a little lesson? We changelings feed on the love produced by ponies and other creatures. Without access to love, we will grow weak. We starve too, you know. Just imagine going weeks without food. I have a kingdom of citizens to protect, and I am not going to let any member of Celestia’s little family stand in my way!’
‘And you think I don’t have to protect my citizens from invaders like you!?’ I say. ‘Just like you, I have to guard the citizens of Equestria during the night.’ Then I charge up my horn for a stronger attack. I also noticed her shining a wicked looking grin.
‘Only during the night? I guess Celestia doesn’t trust you enough to handle the entire day. Now that I think about it, I do remember something about you!’ she says.
About me?
‘While researching Equestria for my first invasion, I came across the story of a banished mare named Nightmare Moon.’ I do not like where this is going! Not at all! ‘She tried to bring about a permanent night throughout Equestria. What a terrible act. Only a monster would even try something like that! I mean, without the day, the ponies wouldn’t be able to grow their food, and would eventually STARVE! You are Nightmare Moon, aren’t you?!’
Now I was really mad! ‘I am NOT Nightmare Moon!’ I say as I fire my charged horn, watching her fall but then regain her balance. ‘How did you know I was once Nightmare Moon? You mentioned to have never known of me.’ I demanded.
‘You have such a strong resemblance to her, the dark colors and the love of the night. I just put two and two together.’ She says. ‘It must be hard for you to recover your status after all that!’
She really doesn’t know who she is dealing with, does she?
‘And what about you, having to go back to your kingdom as nothing but a failure unable to care for your own subjects? I cannot imagine why they let you continue your reign as queen.’ I mock. I figure that I might as well give her back what she has been giving me.
‘It is because I will not give up until I get them enough love to live the life they deserve!’ she says.
‘Look who the monster is now, taking the love of innocent ponies.’ I start, ‘Tell me, if you capture the ponies, where is their love going to come from?’ I say. Let’s see her explain that!
She responds, ’It is a final resort. You ponies haven’t accepted my people and have instead treated us like parasites!’ as she fires more beams at me.
AHH! It hit me. I start falling, but pick myself up. I look at the queen, who looks as if she is about to shed a tear, but then styles a more serious look, as if she had a plan.
‘You know, Luna….’ She begins, ‘….we have quite a lot in common!’
What could I have in common with this witch of evil! ‘Like what?’ I reply.
‘We both have people to protect, we both crave power and we both love darkness!’ she says.
I couldn’t handle it anymore. I go straight ahead and tackle the mare. We both fall to the ground. As we land, I keep her pinned on the ground.
I look at her in the eye and say, ‘You listen and You listen close. I am not Nightmare Moon, I am Princess Luna. And we have nothing in common!’ Chrysalis tries to escape from my grasp, but I wouldn’t allow it! Not without her listening to what I had to ensure she knew. ‘Remember, there is a difference between darkness and the night.’
I will invade your dreams and make you see your worst fears all in one…..nightmare. No. Come on, Luna. Don’t let this burnt cheese tempt you. You are not Nightmare Moon. You are NOT Nightmare Moon. Using what little strength I have, I focus and cast a teleportation spell on the Queen, sending her back to her kingdom. With almost no energy left at my disposal, I walk toward the castle. I fly up to the balcony and collapse.
I am at a ball. Which ball is it? Everypony is dressed quite elegantly, but I do not see myself or Celestia. ‘Introducing…..’ the guard announces, ‘Their royal highnesses, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!’ I see Celestia and I enter, but I look different. I look weaker, and my hair looks different. Celestia sits on the throne and I stand next to her. She rises and starts to speak, ‘Mares and Gentlecolts, I would like to announce the happy reformation of my sister, Princess Luna, from Nightmare Moon! For a thousand years, I have taken over the responsibility of both sun and moon. But now, I can happily say that Luna will once again take over the night, and we will rule together, side by side. In order to celebrate, I have a throne ready for you. I hope that we could live happily once again! Welcome home, sister! I missed you!’ Celestia starts to cry. I start to cry too, well, both of me. ‘Luna…….’ HUH! What was that! ‘Luna…..’ the voice repeats.
I find myself waking up with Celestia once again shaking me. ‘What are you doing asleep? You should have been guarding Equestria!’ she asks worriedly , ‘Did you have another nightmare?’
I look at her confused and say, ‘No. Why would you think that?’
Celestia responds, ‘Just judging by how you were crying, I thought…never mind. What have you been doing all night?’
‘It is a long story’ I say. “YAWN!” ‘Sister? Is it time already to raise the sun?’ Celestia nods her head and we begin.
After we see the first light of day, I say, ‘Isn’t the day beautiful!’ then I ask, ‘Celestia, have the changelings ever tried to mingle with pony society without trying to take over?’
‘No, and I cannot but wonder why! If they had just tried to make peace, the two kingdoms would be happy together!’ she says, ‘Why do you ask?’
‘I’ll tell you after I tell you what happened last night! You will not believe what I have been through!’ I say as we exit the balcony.
Maybe if Queen Chrysalis would have just tried to make peace, her kingdom wouldn’t be suffering as they are! One day…….I will try to make it happen! No pony or changeling deserves to be hidden in the dark!
THE END!
