Evernight

Author: AnnonyMouse
MLP:FiM is property of Hasbro. This is a free fanfiction, not to be sold or traded for any money, goods or services.
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A/N: No comments on spelling or grammar. See my profile for details.
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Evernight
06
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Canterlot Castle Ruins.

The towers and spires jutted out of the steep side of the tall mountain, surrounded by the Ashen forest for many miles in every direction.

From this altitude, even Lunaris Castle was barely visible.

Midnight was in awe as she looked out over the wall, at all of the brightly lit Evernight. There was so much silvery green to be seen, the amazing blue of the many lakes and rivers that dotted and wound across the land.

Even from here, to the north, Midnight could make out Cloudsdale. It looked so small and far away in the light of... day.

“Midnight.” Rarity called out. “We don't have time for sightseeing.”

“But... just look at this view...” She couldn't pull herself away.

Rarity trotted over, her hooves clacking on the ancient stone floor. She looked out and had to admit, it was a sight she had never imagined. “So... so many colours. The forests, the hills and mountains... Is that... Ponyville?”

“I think so, and over there is Trottingham, and there's Cloudsdale up in the sky.” Midnight pointed.

The others joined the pair. They needed a few minutes of rest anyways. This city and castle was built tall, not wide, so they had been climbing since they arrived.

“Oh wow.” Pinkamena pulled out a telescope from... her tail? She looked toward Ponyville. “Hey, I can see Sugar Cube Corner and Rarity's Boutique, and there's the library... and Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Can ya see mah family? Ah told 'em I was going out t' help Midnight on some errand... Ah'm feeling right bad Ah didn't tell em th' truth of it all.”

“I see the Big Red Machine.”

“Big Mac?” Applejack's eyes went wide. “What's the big lug doin'?”

“Um... directing some Pegasus ponies to get clouds over the orchard. I bet your trees are not liking this bright light anymore than we are.” Pinkamena handed the tube to Applejack. She showed her how to use it so she could take a look.

“Ah swear Pinkamena, you come up with some ah the oddest things, like this here lookin' glass.” Applejack smirked as she looked out toward her tiny speck of a big brother. “He looks so tiny, but at least Ah can see him.”

Midnight raised an eyebrow. “I have a telescope that lets me look at the stars closely. It's just a larger and stronger version of this one.”

“Ya don't say?” AJ chuckled.

Dash was looking impatient. “Come on, I think we've rested enough...” She looked toward Cloudsdale. How many years had it been sense she had left?

Fluttershy was sitting down, with Angle resting his large head on her lap. Her injured wing held tightly to her back rather than comfortably behind her.

Dash looked down at the gentle Pegasus Pony. “Are you okay Fluttershy?” She knelt down and looked her friend in the eye.

“I-I'm fine, thank you Rainbow.” She smiled and patted Angel. “We should move on... If you want to that is.”

Midnight nodded in total agreement. “We really should move on.”

Pinkamena took back her spyglass and stowed it back in her tail. “I'm ready to go... Though I'm REALLY getting a bad feeling about this...” Her ears twitched slightly.

“Ah reckon we aught tread careful from here on in.” Applejack shouldered her axe.

Twilight simply nodded and looked at Rarity. “Will you be alright Rarity?”

“Oh yes, I assure you once this is tended too, I intend to take a long, hot shower followed by a long, relaxing visit to the spa.”

“Ponyville has a spa?” Midnight blinked. “Count me in on that.” She chuckled nervously before taking the lead.

The small group pressed on, climbing stairs, crossing a few bridges and winding through the palace till they finally reached the throne room.

It was magnificent, this chamber. The walls were pristine, untouched by the passage of time. The draperies on the walls depicted a sphere of fire, golden and actually pleasing in it's design, not frightening.

And upon the throne sat the four legged mare of flames, Tyrant Skyfire.

“Welcome to the remains of my home.” Her voice was smooth, soft, but the anger was evident. “You wish to take the Elements of Harmony? Then I place before you six tasks.” She smiled, a hint of danger hidden within.

“We'll take your tests.” Midnight stepped forward. “And trust me, we WILL defeat you like our Queen did a thousand years ago.”

Tyrant Skyfire laughed. “Do you truly think you can? My younger sister could not stand up to my power without the Elements. Do the six of you think you have what it takes? Then fine, a task... for each of you.” Her horn flared brightly, flames dancing through the air, enveloping the six.

They cried in shock and fear, but not in pain as they were engulfed.
...

Rainbow Dash groaned and opened her eyes. She looked around and gasped. She was in Cloudsdale. But this was not the Cloudsdale she remembered.

All around, the Pegasai were wearing armour, baring spears. But these were not HER Pegasus, but the four hooved ones that her kind had once been.

She felt a weight on her shoulders and head, and found she was wearing the exact same armour. In fact, she too was a four hooved Pegasus Pony.

“What is going on here?” She wanted to panic.

“We are preparing for war.” One of the soldiers told her. “The pathetic Earth Ponies are withholding food, and without it, we will all starve. We are going to conquer them and make them provide us with food.”

“What?” Dash paled. “War? With other ponies?” She spun around, realizing that her own kind were indeed preparing for war.

“Of course, and then we will conquer the Unicorns and make then raise and lower the sun and the moon like they always have.” The soldier glared at Dash. “How is it you don't know all this already?”

“Um... I just got here?”

“Ah, from one of the outlying settlements? Then tell me, what do you know of the Earth Pony forces?”

Dash shook her head. “I don't know. I don't even really understand what's going on here.” She glared at the soldier. “I'm not going to war, and I'm not going to fight and hurt other ponies. I know we can all learn to live in peace with one another.” She threw off her helmet. “Some of my best friends are Earth Ponies, and Unicorns. I'd never betray their trust.”

The Pegasus Pony grinned. “Very good Rainbow Dash. You are a true and Loyal friend.” His form changed to that of Tyrant Skyfire, only her mane was flowing pale pink, blue and green. She bore no markings of being a being on fire other then the sun cutie mark on her hindquarters.

“Tyrant...”

“Princess Celestia is my name, not Tyrant Skyfire.” She smiled gently, kindly, not a hint of hate or anger in her voice. “I am Princess Luna's elder sister, the one you know as Queen Nightsong.”

“You're trying to mess with my head, monster.” Dash stepped forward. “You're not going to change my mind. I won't side with you. You said I passed, then give me the Element of Harmony, or were you lying about that?”

“I was not lying. Here it is.” She spread a wing and dropped a grey sphere to the clouds, where it bounced and rolled to Dash's hooves. “Take it, and return to Canterlot Castle.”

Dash scooped the heavy stone into her hands, and then everything faded away.
...

Rarity stood in the centre of a rundown stone castle. All around her were Unicorns, looking as though they were starving.

These Unicorns walked on all four hooves, and were lacking hands.

Rarity too was on all four hooves. She frowned, thinking too herself (What manner of trickery is this? Tyrant Skyfire certainly is cruel. I better not be stuck like this.)

“Pardon me ma'am.” A young voice caught Rarity's attention. She turned to see a young colt, his ribs and spine showing through his ragged coat. “You wouldn't happen to have any food you could spare, would you?”

“Dear me.” Rarity flinched at the sight. She then became aware that pretty much all the Unicorns were looking half starved, if not already there. She looked at herself. Her ribs were showing just s much as this colt's. She looked downright miserable. She noted she carried a pair of thin saddlebags.

Rarity suddenly felt her stomach growl with hunger, even louder than those of the colt. Frowning, she checked the bags for some food, only to find single withered carrot.

Her stomach screamed at her again and she reached for the carrot, taking it in her teeth. She looked at the frail and starving little colt, only to have her belly rumble painfully. Rarity held her pain in check and placed the food before the colt. “Go on, eat up young one. I only wish I had some more for everypony else.”

The colt smiled. “Thank you miss.” He scooped the carrot up and carried to a frail and sick looking filly. “Little sister? I got you a carrot. Eat up now.”

Rarity, despite her hunger pains, smiled.

“So generous.” A soft voice spoke next to Rarity. “To give the last of your food, knowing that should you not eat, you will certainly be dead by morning.”

Rarity looked up at the beautiful, gentle looking Alicorn. “I would do no less for anypony. I would give my last gem, my last piece of food if I knew it could help another.”

Celestia smiled and opened a wing, dropping a round stone to the ground. “You have passed my test. This Element of Harmony is yours.”

Rarity picked the stone up in her hands, once again a proper Pony, as she knew them to be. She looked up and the world around her faded away.
...

Applejack groaned as she stood up, only too fall back on her flank. She winced on impact and tried to stand, falling again.

This time she caught her fall with her hands... no, they were no longer hands. They were hooves. “What in tarnation?”

“Hey, ya alright there Lass?” An old Earth Pony glanced over. “Ah reckon ya best stay quiet an' keep hidden. Them Pegasus an' Unicorns are here t' steal more food from us.” The old stallion pointed to the large pile of food that was covered by a tarp.

Applejack frowned and looked outside. This was just a small community, with only four houses and each surrounded by bare gardens. She could tell they had all been harvested very recently, and there must have been a large amount of food too.

The orange pony then spotted a pair of weary looking Pegasus and a pair of starving, bones showing Unicorns. They were talking to a middle aged Earth Pony, who looked like he tended to eat quite well.

She could overhear the pair quite easily.

“Please, all we ask is just a little food.” The lead Pegasus pleaded.

“We ain't got none t' give.” A middle aged Earth Pony growled back. “Poor harvest. Can't you see our fields are bare?”

“Certainly you can spare one meal for some wary travellers.” The younger of the two Unicorns fell to her knees and begged. “Please, one small meal and we can make it home.”

“We got nothing t' give.” The Earth Pony yelled again.

Applejack looked at the large pile. She could tell that this was the first harvest of the year, and with so few earth ponies living here, most of this food would spoil before it could be eaten. She looked at the old stallion in this house and frowned.

“We just gonna let them ponies starve? We're lyin' bout not havin' food.”

“They ain't Earth Ponies. We ain't tellin em we got any food.”

AJ frowned. “We have more than what we can ever eat, even if we do trade t' other Earth Pony communities. They'd certainly be able t' grow their own food easy enough.” She pulled back the tarp. “Ah ain't gonna lie t' other ponies.”

“They ain't just other ponies. They're Unicorns and Pegasus ponies. Ya gonna let them know we have food, they'll just bring more and take it all from us.”

AJ scowled. “Ah dun think so. If ya tell em the truth, that ya got more food then what ya can ever eat, an' give em some, then they'll be grateful fer that. Sides, we need the Pegasus fer the weather.”

“Ah guess... An' th' Unicorns raise an' lower th' sun an' moon...” The old stallion sighed. “Fine, yer right lil' Missy. Sides, they ain't really ever stiffed us on the weather and sun.”

AJ smiled proudly. Not because she had won, but because this old Stallion was going to be honest. She watched him step outside and speak.

“We got plenty ah food. We can spare ya a meal easy.” The old Stallion glared at the younger one. “An' Ah dun wanna hear a word o' complaint from ya.”

“But... Pa, this is our food.”

“An' we owe it t' th' good weather an the sun fer ah harvest. We gotta share fairly.”

Applejack smiled as she stepped back. She watched the ponies, all three races, walked into the house and sat down to share a meal.

“The truth can help others, and it is a trait that is most important for friendship.” A beautiful voice spoke from next to the bipedal Earth Pony.

“Ya'll that Skyfire, ain't ya?”

“I am Princess Celestia.” She smiled and let fall a grey stone. “This is your Element of Harmony. Take it and know that you have passed my trial.”

Applejack picked up the stone, and everything faded away.
...

Pinkamena gasped as her bright blue eyes flew open. She hopped off the ground and landed on her hind hooves, balancing perfectly. She glanced at her forehooves and blinked. “Oh, now this just feels funny.” She did feel a little different, and dropped to all four hooves when she started walking toward the only door.

The pink mare stepped out into a room filled with many wary and tired looking Earth Ponies. They looked tired and very bored.

“Why are you all so glum?” She asked curiously.

“Why?” A stallion her age snarled. “Because today is supposed to be the first day of summer celebration, and it's raining outside.”

Pinkamena raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the group. “Just because it's raining doesn't mean we can't have fun indoors.” She hopped up onto the table. “Come on. Certainly you now some fun games to play inside or stories you can tell each other.”

The building shook a little as a strong gust of wind hit. The Ponies shuddered a little at the unnatural weather.

“Them Pegasus are to blame for this.” Another pony cried out angrily. “They're making this storm.”

Pinkamena rolled her eyes. “Well DUH!!! They always make the weather. Now tell me, how's the weather been for the last week or so?”

“Sunny and hot, why?”

“And you're all farmers, right?”

“Of course.”

“So? After a week of hot weather, a good solid rain will do your fields good, and this wind will blow away any dead branches from the trees, letting them grow even better.” She balanced on her hind legs and twirled on one leg. “So you should be happy that the Pegasus are giving you this rain.”

“The mare has a point.” The first stallion spoke up. We have been needing a good rainfall, and there's a lot of dead branches on the apple trees. The mess from the storm will be worth it when we have a good harvest this year.”

Pinkamena hopped off the table and 'grabbed' the Earth Pony's forehooves and lifted him into a 'standing' position. “So? While the storm is on, why not have a little fun. Why not throw a summer rain party, even if we're all indoors.”

The pony laughed and started dancing.

Some ponies started beating their hooves on the floor to create a rhythm while the rest of the ponies broke out into dance as well.

Pinkamena looked around at all the smiling faces and felt her heart and spirits rise. She was certainly feeling better.

Her dance partner stepped back and smiled at the still upright Pinkamena. His form wavered and became a magnificent white mare with pastel rainbow mane and tail. Her gentle pink eyes matched the smile on her lips.

“Well done Pinkamena Diane Pie. You are certainly a joyous young mare.”

“Aww, thank you Miss... Um, you're not Tyrant Skyfire, even if you do look little like her, only you seem really nice and I love your mane and...”

“Pinkamena.” The white mare smiled. “Please, call me Princess Celestia. I am pleased you can so easily bring happiness too those around you, even without party supplies.”

Pinkamena bowed her head a little. “But of course, My special talent is throwing parties, but I simply love making ponies feel joy and happiness. I also bake really good cupcakes.”

Celestia giggled, her own smile spreading on her face. “You do well by your gifts, and here is a gift for you, an Element of Harmony.” She let a grey stone roll across the table into Pinkamena's hands. “You have passed my test.”

Just as with the others, the world vanished around the smiling Pinkamena.
...

Fluttershy stood on a cloud, over a battlefield.

The Pegasus were fighting the Earth Ponies, trying to steal food from them by force.

Fluttershy gasped at this sight, seeing a wounded Earth Pony laying next to a wounded Pegasus. She flew down, landing on all four hooves. She didn't worry about her current form.

“Medic... Help me please.” The Pegasus reached out a hoof. He didn't look terribly wounded. She came over and quickly bound his wound, a cut on his wing.

“Now I want you to keep your wing folded for at least a weak, understood?”

“Yes Ma'am.” He smiled in thanks, then watched as she headed for the wounded Earth Pony. At first, he thought she was going to finish him off, but gasped when she started tending to his wounds, whispering softly to the shocked ground bound pony.

“What are you doing? That's the enemy.” The Pegasus stormed over.

“He's a pony, like you and me. He's hurt and I can't just stand by and let him lay here like this.” She replied with the softest smile either pony had ever seen. Fluttershy continued tending to his wounds, but the other Pegasus pulled her back and raised his weapon over the Earth Pony.

“Never. He's the enemy, and if you're going to help them, that makes you an enemy as well.”

Fluttershy stepped between the pair. “What will you do when all the Earth Ponies are gone? Grow your own food? Certainly there must be some other way to coexist peacefully.”

The Pegasus stepped back and jammed his spear into the ground. “What would you suggest?”

“Perhaps if you stopped fighting and listened to each other.” Fluttershy was very frightened, but she couldn't stand by and let a pony get hurt, especially at the hooves or weapon of another pony. “Look at yourself. Take away your wings and look at him.” She smiled at the Earth Pony who was cowering behind the smaller mare. “Would you see any difference then?”

The Pegasus looked at his wings and folded them to his sides before looking at the Earth Pony. “I'd be the same as him...” He sighed. “You have a point. Without the Earth Ponies, we would have no food... We would have no reason to control the weather, then we'd have no true reason to even exist at all.” He turned and flew into the air, pulling out a horn and blowing it, sounding a retreat. “Soldiers, drop all the food. We'll try another way, a peaceful way. We need them as much as they need us.”

Fluttershy smiled at the Pegasus soldier. “Thank you.”

“Thank you.” He repeated and flew off with his fellow soldiers.

Fluttershy turned to help the fallen Earth Pony and gasped. He was no longer there, but in his place was a beautiful mare of white with a long, beautiful flowing mane.

“To show kindness to another pony, it is something that all Ponies should strive for.” Her smile was gentle and kind. “You have passed my trial, Fluttershy. Take this Element of Harmony.” She dropped the stone to the ground and stepped back.

Fluttershy found herself as she had always know herself, bipedal. She knelt down and gently cradled the grey stone in her arms. “Thank you.” She smiled as the world faded.
...

Midnight floated in a vast realm where lines of magic and power flowed freely. All about her, she saw flows and fields and so many colours that it nearly took her breath away.

Secrets of magic she had never imagined lay before her, at her grasp to take and learn.

But she felt this had to be a trap.

“I will not succumb to your attempts to tempt me with power. I will learn my magic through focused study, experimentation and meditation. You will not fool me Tyrant Skyfire.” Midnight called out.

There was no response.

Midnight snorted and turned, then spotted her spell book, floating open before her eyes.

She knew that within there was a dozen spells she had spent much time learning, but to her amazement as the pages flipped quickly, the flows and lines of magic wrote themselves onto the many blank pages.

“What are you doing to my book?” She cried out. “I don't want your magic, your spells. I want to learn my magic under the guidance of the Queen I love, not some monster who wants to burn the sky.”

Still she heard no other voice but her own. Or could she?

There was a voice... Yes, she could hear it. No, two voices, three, five.

The voices of her friends.

Within the fields of magic she could see their trials, she could see them failing.

Rarity starving and dying.

Applejack being killed when soldiers invaded, knowing there was food to be taken.

Pinkamena keeping everypony too busy to see the storm bringing floods and tornadoes which tore her dwelling apart, killing all the ponies inside in the process.

Fluttershy standing between two enemies, and being stabbed to death by both.

“These are false images you show me Tyrant. I do not believe them...” She spotted a spell, one that could reveal truth. She read the spell and channelled the magic into the fields, revealing the truth of each trial, their successes.

She felt better, knowing her friends had passed, but at the same time, felt she must have failed. She had taken a spell and used it. She had learned a spell her mentor, her teacher, her Queen, had not taught her.

Midnight wanted to purge the spell from her mind, but then she saw more. The spell of truth was still active.

All the magic around her, it was already within her, not known, but the potential.

Unicorns could only learn a few spells beyond what their talent permitted. Almost all spells usually had to be based on their talent.

But Midnight realized something.

Her talent was magic. She reached for her book and grasped it, then held at arms length, the pages facing outward. She willed all the spells she could see to flow into the book.

If Tyrant Skyfire wanted to give her magic spells, then so be it. She would take them and use them to help her friends, her queen, and her family.

“Magic is your talent Twilight Sparkle.” Princess Celestia appeared before Midnight. “A unique talent that few Unicorns are gifted with.”

Midnight channelled the last spell into her book and slammed it shut, the chains winding around and sealing it. “I don't know why you did this, but... Thank you.” She looked over the Pony. She was not Tyrant Skyfire, but Princess Celestia. “Still...” She bowed for a moment before looking right into Celestia's pink eyes. “You are the enemy.”

“Am I?” Celestia asked. “Your spell of truth is still active, so no matter what I say, you will only hear the truth.” She smiled. “Twilight Sparkle, I do not ask that you ever betray Princess Luna, or as you know her, Queen Nightsong. All I ask is that you believe I am not here to burn the sky, but to restore the sun.”

“You may speak the truth, but your sun hurts our eyes. It's too hot and saps our stamina. All your Sun has done is to bring fear to all those in Evernight... And why do you call me Twilight?”

“Because... that is your name.” She closed her eyes. “This reality you live in is a false one. Nightmare Moon, once known as Princess Luna, was imprisoned in the moon for a thousand years, but she broke free and found a way to travel into the past. She altered history by taking away the Elements of Harmony from me, and giving them to her past self.”

Celestia opened her gentle eyes. “I fell and was imprisoned, but as time passed, while I remained trapped in the core of the world, I saw the true path that history should have taken.”

Midnight snorted. “Then why do you not return to THAT reality? This one has existed for a thousand years. It shall continue to exist.”

“Without the warmth of the sun, the world will freeze and die.”

“With the heat of your sun, all life will wilt and die.” Midnight stepped forward. “This is a realm of the night, not one of the sun.” Her horn started glowing. “Can't you see that you are doing nothing but harm? You should return to the core and learn your place.” Magic started taking on a physical form before Midnight. “You say I must pass your trial? No, the Element was stolen by you, so I now take it back in the name of Queen Nightsong.”

The magic surged and the grey sphere appeared before Midnight, much to the shock of Princess Celestia.

“No... How did you do that?”

“I revealed the truth, the hiding place of the Element of Magic.” Midnight grasped the stone and the world around her vanished.

Midnight was once again back in the throne room, standing with her friends, each holding their own Elements.

“Tyrant Skyfire, we banish you back to the core.” Midnight channelled her magic into the sphere. She felt it. The connection of her friends. She felt at ease now that they were around her, her anger vanishing. “You who were Princess Celestia, we seal you once again.”

The spheres transformed into beautiful necklaces and attached themselves to the five ponies who were with Midnight.

Hers became a crown which settled on her head.

“The spell of truth lets me see your truth Tyrant Skyfire. You are a being of great power, but also full of lies.” Midnight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkamena, Rainbow Dash and Rarity floated off the ground.

A brilliant rainbow ribbon of light wrapped around the mares, then shot toward Skyfire.

“The Elements cannot contain me again.” Skyfire laughed as a dark mare appeared before her, standing on four hooves as well.

The black coated Nightmare Moon looked upon the Elements of Harmony in terror, shielding herself with a wing. “No... Not again.” She cried out.

Midnight grasped control of the magic and threw it past the dark mare that could only be Queen Nightsong. The magic slammed into the shocked form of Skyfire, wrapping around her screaming form before imploding.

A hole opened in the ground, dragging the Tyrant into the ground, then slamming shut around her and silencing her screams.

Nightmare Moon's form shifted, her standing up on her hind legs and her hooves becoming hands once again.

“Midnight Sparkle, my Prime Apprentice.” She smiled as Midnight and the others knelt and bowed before her. “The six of you have performed wonderfully on this, the first day after a thousand years.” She looked to the sky and floated off the floor, her great feathered wings spread wide as a silvery blue glow surrounded her.

The sun's light dimmed from bright, burning gold to the soft, gentle silver light of the Bright Moon.

Queen Nightsong then settled to the floor once again. “Had you not taken command of the magic, then I would have been defeated... Turned once again into the Tyrant's puppet. She would have commanded the sun and the moon.”

Midnight smiled as she looked up into those beautiful green eyes. She took the crown off her head and held it out. “My Queen, we have recovered the Elements of Harmony, and return them to you.”

Nightsong shook her head. “The Elements are no longer bound to me, but to the six of you. You are now their representatives.” She looked to Applejack. “Applejack Apple. You represent Honesty. When you told those Pegasai and Unicorns that there was food to be shared, you opened their eyes. Because of that, war was avoided, and your ancestors were not slaughtered.”

“Rarity, you shared the last bit of your own food for that child, even if that one carrot could have sustained you till you could have found more. This is why you represent Generosity.”

“Pinkamena, you brought smiles to those fearful Ponies. You helped them make it through a frightening storm. This is why you represent Joy.”

“Fluttershy, your heart knows adversity and pain, but it did not keep you from lending aid to those who should have been your enemies. You showed those soldiers that Kindness is a better way for all Ponies to live. This is why you represent Kindness.”

“Rainbow Dash. You would not betray your friends or your loyalty to myself. You represent Loyalty.”

Nightsong then turned to Midnight. “Midnight. You used magic to see through the weave of lies my elder sister had woven. Your magic was what saved all your friends from brutal deaths. You represent the most powerful of the elements, but also the most dangerous. Magic.”

Midnight nodded, understanding that they now commanded the Elements of Harmony. “We may represent the Elements, but we all owe our lives to you, our beloved Queen Nightsong. We see that the Tyrant had left those false clues to cloud our minds, to try to make us feel doubt in you.”

“But you did not doubt me.” Nightsong smiled. “Come now, let us return to Lunaris Castle.” Her horn flared beautifully and the ancient ruins of Canterlot vanished in silver light.
...

To Be Continued...