Stained Crown: The Elements of Disharmony

Chapters

Unforgotten, but maybe forgiven?
Evocation
Nightmare Night
Quarantine
A story told
Just one mistake
Off into the forest
Prelude: Shattered Pieces

Unforgotten, but maybe forgiven?

The room was large and filled with sunlight. It was drowned by the carpets, which hang in front of the windows. Blue walls. Silvery ornaments, showing the moon and stars. Two carpets hang at the portal. They looked like maps of constellations. A chandelier made of silvery crystals swang back and forth from the celling. Books stood in shelves of darkbrown wood. A telescope stood by a window, waiting patiently for the night to begin.

All in all the room looked wonderful as if its owner had everything. But in the center of this chamber laid a blue filly, which had burried her face in her hooves. Her wings were folded thight and her body shivered. Blue strands of mane danced over her sobbing face. Princess Luna was crying. The high-pitched sounds trailed through the air like a symphony. Tears floated out of the sapphireblue eyes, which were shut thight.

It is just not fair. Luna was a Princess of Equestria and therefore she had a certain task to fullfill. Her duty was to bring the night over the country. A wonderful spectacle of black velvet, full of silvery-white dots and the moon with its pale light in it. The night turned everything grey and cool. Soft shadows, the sun could never form.

But nopony saw that. They never came out of their homes, when shadows fell and the day died. Instead Luna saw them going into their homes and their windows turned dull as they extinguished the light of their lamps and candles. They slept during the night and shunned the moon away.

They only wait for Celestia's sun to come out! Was that all these ponies wanted? The sun and day with all its colours. Green, blue, yellow, red, orange, violet. All colours of life. Luna had heard the ponies cheerish and play by the day. And moreover they celebrated the mare, who brought it to them.

„Luna?“ The voice came from behind her. It was soft spoken, quiet and kind.
That she dares to come! Hasn't she got any of her royal duties to perform? „What do you want here?“, shrieked Luna and whirled around. Tears trembled on her lids and with a hoof she pointed at the mare, who stood in the doorway. „Shouldn't you be by your oh so important subjects?“

The mare was taller then her and looked like a swan. Her white coat gleemed in the dull light. A pink mane floated around her shoulders and neck. Her dawncoloured eyes, first friendly, now widened in shock. Princess Celestia, Luna's older sister, had lifted a hoof as if she was about to enter the room. Now she placed it down on the ground with a low thud.

Firm Celestia replied: „My subjects are also yours as well, Luna. And I actually came to ask you, if you want to accompaign me at the Day of Harmony parade. It is important that we are present.“
What a blasphemie! Luna felt, she could choke on her anger. The mare stood up. She snarled: „No, it is important, that you are present. It does not matter, if I show up or not. Because nopony will notice.“

Her wings shot open in her anger and tears rained down her cheek as Luna shouted: „Those ponies, they only want you, they only see you, they only love you! They don't want to see me. They don't care about my night! You took them all for yourselves. It is not fair! Why do you get all the praise?“ Her rage pumped through her veins and she stared at the other mare, waiting for a response.

Celestia seemed to be taken aback by the sudden rage. She responded it with the same fury: „Luna, what nonsense are you spouting this time? This is ridicolous. Our subjects love us both. And I did not do anything. I just did my duties as Princess of Equestria. Maybe you should do the same. And you must learn to tempt your anger. That is not very ladylike.“

Not very ladylike! Are you kidding me?! Despair and anger shook the Princess of the Night and she had the urge to vomit. Luna rose to her hindlegs and her horn started to flare blue. „Just get out!“, she roared, „Your subjects have not seen you far too long. Be a good ruler!“ Her magic snatched the doors and they slammed in front of Celestia's shocked face.

Luna landed on the ground with her hooves. Tiny cracks appeared on the marble from the pressure. Her eyes, closed thight, went open just a slit to reveal glowing blue of anger. Tears still streamed down her face and she bared her teeth, crunching them together. Her ears were pulled back.

Can you hear my heart, Tia? Can you hear this breaking sound? Her anger and sadness run through her, boiled inside her and made shiver. Luna feared, she could go back from this black rage. Hopes and dreams. They all shattered apart and crashed on the ground in front of her. I cannot believe my eyes, how the world is filled with filth and lies.

Deep down inside her mind something black rose up. Luna could not really tell what it was. She had just named it darkness, because it had no silhouette, no form. Luna had never felt anything like it. Perhabs it was only a product of her imagination. But the youngest Princess felt the darkness everywhere. It creeped through her flesh and bones and she slowly drowned in it, got swallowed and embraced by it.

Finally a sharp cry echoed through the chamber. Luna screamed all her anger, sadness, hate, jealousy out of her longues. All those feelings, bottled up in side her, they just exploded and broke free in dark and violent ways. Luna felt as if she was reborn. And as the mare lowered her head and looked at the mirror, she stared at the face of a stranger.

Her coat was pitchblack like midnight. Her mane was now a dark symbol of the nightsky, swirlig and dancing around her. But the worst were the eyes. A toxic turqouise had replaced the beautiful sapphirre and her pupils, usually round like those of any other filly, were small and slitlike. She had cat-eyes or snake-eyes. Luna opened her maw to reveal sharp fangs and......

***

„Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!“ The cry of the Princess cut through the sleepy palast. In a fast movement her head shot upwards and she viciously kicked parts of her blanket backwards. Her chest went up and down as she breathed in fast and hasty wheezes. Sweat ran down her face and neck. Luna stared at a window.

Outside it had started to rain. Lightnings cut like scissors through the grey clouds and the thunder rumbled. And in their light for the glimpsle of seconds Luna thought she saw the face from her dream. No! No, no, no! As the blue Alicorn looked at the window again, she only saw her own face, scared and eyes widened.

Luna gulped. Her fear had made her root to the spot. It has been a dream, Luna. Nothing more then a dream. Calm down! Angrily the mare pressed her hoof against her forehead and showed her teeth as she pulled back the corner of her mouth. Calm down! The Princess remembered a special technique Cadence was using, when stress was getting the best of her.

Luna took a deep breath, closed her eyes and placed her hoof on her hearth. With a swift sound she breathed out. While doing so the mare moved her hoof away and pictured all her troubles disappearing. It worked. Well, partly. Enough for her to did not break out into tears.

Going back to sleep was no option. Sighting Luna climbed out of her bed. She shook her wings and folded them back neatly on her shoulders. The Princess walked towards the window. She rose to her hindlegs and pushed back a part of the carpet. Outside the sky was still dark and cloudy from the thunderstorm, but her inner clock told Luna, that it must be the middle of the day.

The Princess of the Night now lived in Canterlot, in another West Wing. Her room was different from the one, where the small filly had laid, crying her eyes out. The walls were silvery-white and darkblue carpets hang in front of the window. Her large, blue bed had the finest wood and soft pillows and a large, comfortable blancet. A bookshelf stood behind it. Near the window was a table with paper and ink. There also was a large box for private stuffs of the Princess.

The whole castle was new for Luna, but it sadly could not hold the dream away from her. Or moreover the thoughts, that came with it. What have I done? That arguement with Celestia had been decades ago, but it had marked an important part in her life. The very first moment, where she came in contact with her. With the mare, that would turn the Princess into a monster.

Nightmare Moon. Already the name made Luna shiver in fear and disgust. But greater then this was the shame. I betrayed them all. Her subjects, who had put their fate in her hooves. Her sister, to whom she had been the closest. She had turned her back on all of them as the darkness had swallowed her and Nightmare Moon had been born. She had started a rebellion against her sister. Sure, she had paid for her crime by an exile, which had been hell on earth for her, but still there was the nagging fear.

They look at me and they see Nightmare Moon. What else could be there? Could her subjects ever see her as the Princess or herself again? She still remembered her deeds and the others must as well. Luna sighted low and let go of the carpet. It softly swang back in its position and hide the thunderstorm in front of her window. She turned her face away from the window.

Luna closed her eyes. Her ears pearked up and her mane waved in front of her, following the movement of her long, swan-like neck as she lowered her head. Why can't she leave me alone? This had not even been her first bad dream. It seemed, that the dark mare, her greatest sin, kept coming back to her, when she least suspected it. What, if that being, which had made her a monster, was still out there?

Luna slowly picked up the crown, which laid next to her bed. She hold it in her hoof and lifted it. Can I even be called a Princess after my past? Her sin. It was like dirt, which stuck on her royal sign and no matter how hard she cleaned the crown, it would not let go. Guilt. A heavy stone on her heart. It dragged her down. How could she believe, that the purification had earsed all her mistakes? Sometimes Luna wished herself the dark coat back. And she hated herself for that. This easy, disgusting way to numb her pain.

The mare placed the crown on her head. She could stay in her chamber forever, bothering to herself. But suspections won't help her in any way. The urge to talk with Celestia had come to Luna so fast it actually hurt. But whom else could she trust with this? Her sister could give her some advice and comfort, she needed so much.

***

At that time of the day Celestia was still in the throne room. It laid in the middle of the castle. Luna slowly walked through the corridors. They were not as dark and blue as her chambers in the West Wing. White marble, darkbrown wooden grounds and mosaics everywhere. They were made out of coloured stones, sanded precisley. The images showed events of Equestria's history. And everywhere were the symbols of the two Royal Sisters. The sun and the moon. The West Wing represented Luna more, while the East Wing celebrated Celestia. Only the corridors, which leaded to the throne room and the throne room itself showed them as equals.

Several servants and guards passed Luna. They all walked through the castle, busy like a pack of ants. Everyone was lured in his own world, focussed on his task, but whenever the Moon Princess walked passed them, they shortly bowed in respect. Luna stopped one of them „Do you know, where my sister is?“, she asked.
The servant bowed and mumbled: „The throne room, your Highness.“
„Thanks.“

Luna folded her wings and started to trott. Her head was lifted and her legs swang back and forth as she made her way to the corridors. Sunlight enlighted everything and turned the fine dust into flying, golden clouds. The throne room had three entrances. Two on the side for the Princesses and the main entrance for the guests.

Luna had walked in a way, which would make her pass through the main entrance. She was taken by surprise as the mare spotted two guards, who blocked the gate with their spears. Luna's eyes widened, before she declared angrily: „I need to talk with my sister. Open the door.“

„Her royal Highness, Princess Celestia, is very busy at the moment. She has to discuss the schedule system of her School for Gifted Unicorns with the head teacher for any new changes“, responded one of the guards.

It was an unicorn, which was rather tall for its kind. The golden armor looked different from the ordinary. It had red lines at the edges of the metall pieces and a black star in the crest of the chest piece. He even wore a saddle. His coat had a metallic fair blue and Luna even spotted parts of his Cutie Mark. A circle, which was divided in a black and a white half. His cleaned mane was so bright it almost seemed white.

Luna rolled her eyes. What a ridicolous reason to not let me in! „I appreciate her action, but I am sure, she can spare some time“, the blue mare replied, „I really must talk with her. It is important. So let me in.“
The guard narrowed his eyes. They were golden like amber. The unicorn responded: „I doubt that. Princess Celestia gave me constructions to let nopony in.“

The Moon Princess gasped. That arrogant snob! Luna shook her head to calm herself down. Her tail twitched at its tip. She said coldly: „As thy Princess we command thou to open the gate and let us in!“ Having Luna caught in her hot temper could be dangerous, but the guard did not even flinched.

He stretched his shoulders, lifted his head and responded, while smirking slightly: „I have sworn loyality to Princess Celestia. She is the only one, who can give me any order and I will obey to it. But I won't follow you, shadowy Princess of the Night. So I think, you will just have to...“

Luna was about to just force her way in by showing this ruffian away, when a calm, strict voice could be heard behind them: „What is going on here?“ The guard turned pale as he whirled around. Standing in the doorway, majestic and beautiful, stood Princess Celestia herself. Her rainbow-coloured mane floated around as she lowered her head to stare down at the guard with one dawnpink eye. „Sharp Sword? I demand an explanation!“

Sharp Sword looked at Luna, then back at the Solar Princess. He saluted and reported: „Your younger sibling was about to interrupt your meeting with the Headteacher. Therefore I simply reminded her, that you wished not to be disturbed in any way.“ Luna put back her ears and narrowed her eyes. Liar! What a blasphemie! He clearly had insulted her. But why?

Princess Celestia snorted. „My sister is always welcomed to come to me, Sharp Sword. As my lieutenant I ask you to have more respect towards her. She is your Princess as well.“ Haha! You deserve that! Luna curled her noistrils to hide her satisfied smile.

Celestia now turned her attention to the younger sibling. She sounded rather surprised, when she asked: „Luna, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be asleep during that time of day?“
Luna lowered her head. She scratched her ancle. „I...had a bad dream“, she confessed sadly and gave her sister a weird look. Celestia's face eclipsed with worry. The mare smiled symphatetically.

The Solar Princess slowly walked towards Luna. She turned her head backwards and called after her scheduler: „Kibitz, do you mind cancelling the next two meetings from my day's routine?“ The brown unicorn with his bushy beard grunted „Not at all“ as he used a pen to cross two points on his clipboard. Celestia softly gave Luna a cue with her wing. „Follow me“, the Solar Princess said.

***

Celestia's private chambers were clad in white, perfectly glooming marble. Carpets hang from the walls, showing landscapes or important events of Canterlot. A fire burned in a chimney. Unlike Luna Celestia had three bookshelves. On a golden bar sat her pet phoenix Philomena, who greeted them with a soft chirp. A tableset stood on a small, brown table.

Luna felt the soft carpet under her hooves. The fabric was as red as dawn itself. Celestia slowly walked to the table. There were no chairs but comfortable, fluffy pillows to sit down. The Solar Princess nestled in one of them. With a nod of her head she invited Luna to do the same. The blue mare slowly walked to her sister and sat down. With a sad sigh the Moon Princess folded her wings.

One of Celestia's kleinsmaids had brought a tea can and a cup for refreshment. Celestia's horn glowed golden and she made another cub appear. The mare softly poured some tea into the cups and handed one Luna. „Thanks“, whispered the Princess.

Celestia levitated her cup with ease and took a swip. Her dawncoloured eyes rested on Luna's worried face. „What is it, little sister?“, she asked, „I am worried about you. What troubles you?“ Luna opened her maw to reply, but her mouth was as dry as a dessert. She gulped. „Take your time“, encouraged Celestia her. Luna levitated the cup to her lips and sipped at it. The mint tea burned in her throat and eased her breath.

Luna sighted and slowly placed the cup back on the table. The porcellan made a fair cling. The blue Alicorn looked at her older sister. Her words first sounded bumpy, but soon her voice became better: „I had another night....bad dream. It was more off a memory. I dreamed about the one argument we had on the Harmony Day Parade. The day, where I transformed into Nightmare Moon for a couple of seconds.“

Tears dripped down her snout and she tried to whip them away with her wing, but Celestia was faster. She levitated a napkin and dried her younger sister's eyes. Luna shivered as she continued: „I did not suspected it to be so hard, Tia. She does not want to leave me alone. I feel so bad and ashamed. I cannot even dare to really say her name. I fear, what the ponies think of me. I cannot deny this one thought: They look at me and they see Nightmare Moon. I am not asking for much: Just love and respect. But how can they respect a monster? How can they ever see the Princess in me? What, if I am no longer good enough to play this part.“

Celestia sighted. „You are a great Princess, Lu“, the white mare said. She stood up and walked to her sister. Swan-like wings embraced Luna and she leaned herself against her sister's chest. Celestia whispered: „Our little ponies adore you just as much as they adore me. Think about, what you have done. You helped countless ponies in their dreams. Scootaloo for example. You helped her conquer her fear and now she absolutely loves you. And the other Cutiemark Cursaders love you as well. I feel, that many children are more bond to you then they are to me. Or think about Nightmare Night. The citizens of Ponyville enjoy it so much, when you visit their town during this night.“

„But...but my sin“, Luna whispered, „It is not gone. Can these ponies really see me without my past?“ She gazed up Celestia and shivered.
The white mare responded: „Do not let your past define you, Luna. You are a wonderful ruler and I am really glad to have you by my side. I will never leave you alone. And you may forgotten something. Sure, the ponies are still sleeping during your night, but they ackonowledge, what you are doing for them. Not just in the Dream Realm, but also in reality. During the night, it is you and your guards, who protect an entire nation. And our little ponies trust you. Otherwise they would never deposit their alertness to go to sleep.“

Luna looked the other way. „You are right, Tia“, she mumbled and a thine smile caressed her lips.
Celestia took a step back. „Are you feeling better, Luna?“, she asked caringly.
„Yes.“ Her ears twitched and her smile grew sheepish. „I think so.“
But then her face eclipsed once more. Luna stood up. She slowly walked to the window and gazed through it. In the distance the Everfree Forest rustled in the wind.

Luna whispered: „Do you think, she is still out there? And might return? What, if she is not dead? What if she searches for me?“
Celestia trotted by her side and responded: „Let's hope, Nightmare Moon is really gone. But don't worry, sister.“ She lifted an hoof and turned Luna's chin towards her. „You will never have to face Nightmare Moon again.“
„Promise?“, asked the Moon Princess.
Celestia pulled Luna into another hug. Her head laid on her neck. „I promise.“

Evocation

The clearing laid deep in the hearts of the Everfree Forest. It was almost empty without any sign of life, except for a pegasus mare, who sat by the shore of a pond. The dark trees stood around it like silent guardians. Their branches, covered in dark, heavy leaves were enlaced in one another, forming a celling of impenetrable thicket. Only a few rays of moonlight made it through and painted small dots on the dark gras.

Autumn had come. Outside of Everfree the Running of the Leaves took place and shook the brown, red and golden leaves from the trees. Not so in this forest. Here a cold, sharp, frosty wind had to fullfill the duty of thousands of pony hooves. Therefor it took longer for Everfree to lose all its leaves. The wind was whispering.

It moved the pegasus' mane. She sat by the pond's shore, motionless like a stature. Her eyes were closed as if she was breeding over something. Pale patches of moonlight brightened up her fair grey coat, making it shimmer like liquid silver. Her mane and tail were bushy, thick and tousled from the wind. Their strong, cobaltblue tone was a huge contrast to the fair grey fur.

The mare wore a slender, thick, atheletic-like uniform. Violet, shiny fabric and yellow, lightning shaped lines at the leg's ends. The most parts of the suit were pitchblack, but neck, body and legs were hidden under the purple fabric. At the mare's hips where usually a Cutiemark laid was the symbol of the suit: a horse's skull with a wing. The pegasus' eyes were hidden under the yellow glass of her glasses.

There was a clicking noise as an intruder stepped on a branch, when he entered the clearing. The mare's ears twitched but she did not bother to turn her face around. „Amentia.“ The full, deep voice of the stallion sounded as clear in her mind as if he whispered the words into her ear. „We are ready, when you are.“ Telepathy. It was only granted her and her siblings. Because the Shadowbolts were no ordinary ponies. They were the children of the black unicorn itself.

Amentia let out a pleased sneeker. She blinked and smiled. „I shall come soon“, she said. Unlike the stallion her voice was fair, high-pitched, yet melodic, soft and smooth. It had a rasping sound in it like leaves trembleing in the wind. The stallion nodded in a silent understanding and turned around. His hooves crunched over wet leaves as he disappeared between the trees and got swallowed by the shadow.

Amentia opened her eyes. She directed her glance towards the moon. It hang above Everfree, a large, silver coin. Tonight was a supermoon. The celestial body hang close above the earth and was rounder and larger then usual. In its cool light one could see strange imprints on the surface. Dark grey dots like hoofprints. They formed the silhouette of a mare's head with a long horn. It had been clearer a long time ago, but now the imprint seemed to fade away.

Amentia's eyes started to glow golden. Another skill, she had, which was different from other pegasi. Magic. The grey mare could cast spells, while her eyes glowed yellow underneath her glasses. Now she slowly levitated a strange, silver-blue piece of metall. It was a helmet, shaped to fit a far taller mare's head with a horn. Amentia focussed the helmet as she spoke: „Our queen, my mistress, my mother, grace our meeting with your presence tonight for we shall present to you the very first object, you need for your step to claim the Equestrian throne as your own.“

The mare closed her eyes. The helmet, which swam in the air above her, moved closer, until its cool metall met the back of her nose. „Let me be an instrument, a piece in your game of chess, until the King is defeated“, Amentia continued her silent prayer, „For tonight you shall see the object for your deed. And we shall await your orders. Ready to fullfill them without hesitation.“

Amentia opened her wings. With a fast flap she took into the air. Her silhouette was painted against the moon. Her wings moved back and forth. Her eyes glowed golden as she made the helmet circulate around her, before she directed it towards her head.

„Graze us with your presents. True Queen of Equestria, Mare of Darkness, Mare in the Moon. We, the Nocturnal Children, are waiting for you. We shall fullfill your task and the dirarchy of Sun and Moon shall fall. You shall be pleased with the object, we are bringing to you. Nightmare Moon, we shall present you your first step in your masterplan.“

Amentia landed back on the grass of the shore. She threw her head in her neck. It was now embraced by the cool metall of the helmet, which sat loosely on her forehead. The Shadowbolt's eyes reflected the moon and its strange imprint. „We will follow through your plan“, she whispered, „For you are the queen and we are your instruments.“

***

Amentia was slowly walking down a path. It curled itself out of the clearing and through the forest. Roots laid over the dry, brown earth and bramble ranks clawed themselves into the pegasus' legs. But the mare moved safe and sure over the path, which had been made by animals. It leaded towards another clearing, even deeper then the one with the pond.

Bramble bushes grew between the enermous dark trees and formed a wall of dark, impenertable thicket. Amentia used her magic to open a small gap between the thorny ranks. As soon as she slipped through it, the pegasus made the entrance close again. This clearing was larger. The gras had been ripped out and someone had drawn strange symbols on the ground in the center. They formed a circle and in it the moon, around which laid six lines.

The place was barley enlighted by the dull shine of candles, which stood in glass bowls. A large rock laid in the gras in front of the strange symbol. It was so huge, a mare could stand on it. Moonlight turned the silver of the stone into bright white. The flickery flames of the candles showed that several other ponies were in the clearing. Pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies. They all had different shapes and colours. The only thing they had in common was the uniform. It was the same silky athletic suit, Amentia was wearing.

Amentia let her eyes glide over the clearing. Finally she found those, she had been looking for. In front of the rock stood two pegasi stallions with darkgrey fur and cobaltblue manes like hers. They were waiting patiently as she marched towards them and stopped. If the trio of them stood together, one could easily see, that they were the real Shadowbolts. And they were the only ponies, fully grown, without any Cutiemark.

„So?“, asked Amentia.
„The area around the clearing is clear“, Deimos said. He had a rasping, sharp sounding voice. „We have not spotted any guard of the Night Patroul. Therefore I think, we won't be distrubed in any way.“
„Good.“ Amentia nodded, before she directed her attention towards her other brother. „Do you have the special object, Phobos?“
„It has not left my side scince our departure from the place, where it had been hidden from the world.“ Phobos had been the stallion, who had asked Amentia to come.

„And do we have a sacrifice?“, Amentia demanded to know, „You are aware, that she won't come without a sacrifice.“
Deimos smirked. „Oh, yes, we have one. She has just woken up. And by all the evil spirits she is scared.“
Phobos gave his brother an angry glare. „That is because you told her, Lightning Dust would cut off her horn, if she tries anything.“ Deimos waved an hoof. He chuckled nervously. „It was all for some fun nothing more.“ He whispered to himself: „Old killjoy.“

Phobos snorted disdainfully. He adressed Amentia: „She could not do anything, even if she wanted to. She is a foal and her magic is not mature enough yet. She can hardly levitated a spoon. She won't make any trouble.“ He shot a sharp look at his brother as if he wanted to say Unlike somebody else. Deimos smirked challenging, but as Phobos kicked him in the side and grumbled something, he ducked down.

Amentia smiled pleased and amused. It was always funny to see Deimos and Phobos arguing. The two saw her as the leader, although she had stated to Rainbow Dash, when she and her siblings tried to lure her away from her friends, that the Shadowbolts still needed a captain. But now after the purification of Princess Luna, the three pegasi had come to life and were no longer mere illusions. And they had sworn to avange their mother's murder.

„You all have done very well“, Amentia said. She was the only one gifted with a voice of her own for Nightmare had spoken with her mouth to Rainbow Dash. The pegasus mare glanced at the sky. The moon shone in the clearing. „But now we must take our places. The night won't be young forever.“

Deimos and Phobos nodded and slowly flew away. Amentia watched them, until they slowly circled above the clearing with the other pegasi. She turned around and walked to Lightning Dust, a bright lemongreen pegasus mare with a yellow, stiff mane, who stood besides a bundle with a sack above its head.

Lightning slowly nodded as a greeting and bowed. „Amentia?“, she asked. The silvery mare looked at the bundle. The filly's fair purplegrey coat had patches of dirt and dry leaves in the mane. It was whimpering and struggeling against the ropes, tied around its legs.
„I take the sacrafice“, Amentia explained, „You have done well, Lightning Dust. Now go and take your place.“ The pegasus nodded, turned around and walked off.

Amentia pulled off the bag of the filly's head. The small mare gasped for breath and looked around worried. She had yellow, big eyes and a small horn on her head. As soon as she spotted the scary pegasus, she stammered: „Where am I? Who are you? What are you going to do with me?“ Tears were shimmering in her eyes and she whimpered.

Amentia smiled coldly. „How nice of you to join us here“, she whispered, „And don't you worry your little head. You will hardly need those questions, because soon this is all over for you.“ The pegasus mare looked around. The Nocturnal Children had taken their positions and were now eagerly and silently waiting for the leader to begin.

Amentia's eyes glowed golden and her magic enwrapped itself around the filly. She screamed and kicked helplessly in her grasp. Amentia's eyes glowed even more and the shrill sounds of the filly silent and muffled as she had been gagged. The Shadowbolt carried the sacrifice to the center of the weird drawing. She softly placed the filly on the ground.

While the young cub looked around with eyes filled with terror, Amentia directed her glance to the moon. Her voice filled the clearing as she spoke: „Our queen, our mistress, mother, we are gathered here together in an emergency meeting to present to you the first key to the chest, which is called victory. Nightmare Moon, please have the mercy to honor us with your presence. We are giving you the soul of this filly. Be well-pleased with it!“

Amentia's eyes glowed as she casted another spell. The mare had been carring a saddleback with her for some time by now. Now it opened and out of its protective foldings floated a knife. It was small and sharp like a razor blade. The silver shimmered, unpatched, unstained. But Amentia was about to change that.

As soon as the filly spotted the knife, enwrapped by the Shadowbolt's magic, she struggled even more against her ties. Her head yerked around. Muffled cries and screams came out of her maw. „Hold her still“, Amentia ordered calmly. There won't be a mistake during this sacrafice. This silly filly would not ruin their ceremony.

Deimos and Phobos stepped forwards. The placed their hooves against the filly's forehead and kept her still. The small one's horn sparkled weakly in an attempt to free its owner. But Phobos had been right. This foal was so young, it could not defend itself. It was like killing a chicken. Amentia's eyes glowed and the blade made a fast, swooshing movement.

The filly gasped. The cut at her throat was not so deep it would kill her. No, the life would be drained out slowly like the blood, which now formed several rills on the fair purple coat. Amentia and the other Nocturnal Children stepped backwards. They waited patiently. An awkward, tight silence filled the room. All eyes of yellow glass were directed at the filly.

She was breathing in fast and quiet wheezes. Her chest softly moved up and down. Her eyes were shot open and tears trembled between the lashes. The blood kept running out of the wound, stealing the life away. It had an exotic beauty in itself. The drops landed on the dry grass, forming a beautiful contrast.

Slowly a change took place. Out of the filly's maw and noistrils came a silvery-white dust. The substance floated upwards like fog. Phobos hit Amentia at her shoulder and pointed upwards. Her eyes went wide at the sight of the shadows, which towered above the rock. The dark, mistlike fabric was creeping over the stone, pouring through its cracks. The silver-white dust was floating towards this shadows and seemed to be absorbed by them.

The blackish mist twisted and shaped itself. Out of the dancing shadows a mare's head pulled itself out. It had a long, elegant horn. Two oval, turqouise eyes with slitlike pupils opened. Her mane danced around her. The mare opened her maw and revealed long, white teeth, sharp like daggers cooled in snow.

The Nocturnal Children could hear a sight. It came from the filly. The small creature was breathing out for one last time and out of its maw came a small, blue orb. It flew upwards, glowing rhythmically like a heartbeat. The shadowy mare let out an eagerly, pleased growling sound as her maw opened wider. A long, violet tongue rolled out and snatched after the orb. Its tip wrapped itself around the tiny, precious object, then the mare closed her maw with a low crack and tilted her head back. Everyone's eyes followed the small burl, which travled down the mare's long, snakelike neck, until it disappeared in her chest.

Then with a silent, swooshing sound the shadows drained themselves away and revealed the mare as an Alicorn. She was tall, taller then any pony of this meeting. Her shoulders beared feathered wings, which were partly shaped like the one of a bat. The coat was as black as coal. Her mane and tail wavered around her despite the place being windless. It's fabric was black too, but it had an indigo shimmer in it. The texture reminded one of fog.

All Nocturnal Children immediatley pressed themselves on the ground, until belly and chin touched the cool grass. Amentia shared curious and excited glances with her brothers. They all pressed their ears on their head. The true Queen of Equestria had come to their meeting and therefore she should have her right respect.

„Oh my beloved instruments“, Nightmare Moon adressed the ponies, „It has been so many moons, scince I have seen you. The soul, you gave me, was quite a pleasure to me. I presume, you had a good reason to call me.“ Her wings flapped and the turqouise eyes burned themselves into every member with a fast, cold glance.

Amentia looked at Phobos. „Give me the object“, she hissed. Her brother opened his saddleback. He handed her a small, brown packet, wrapped in dirty balls of dry fabric. The mare snatched the packet with her teeth. She stood up and stepped forwards. Nightmare Moon's head stopped dancing around and her eyes foccused on the leader. Her wings slowly folded. „So, Amentia“, she asked, „What have you got for me?“

Amentia dropped the package. She looked up and adressed not just her mistress, but also the members of the Nocturnal Children: „We have been searching far and wide to find this specific gem stone. It may have another name now, but for us its true purpose was clear. We present the Alicorn Amulet to you, Nightmare Moon.“ Amentia bowed deeply. Her chin rested on her knee. Her eyes were closed. „We hope, it is to your pleasure, true Queen of Equestria.“

As the Shadowbolt's leader stepped backwards, Deimos and Phobos came forward as if there had been a silent sign. Both brothers snatched the packet's bandages and started to unfold them. On the brown scarf laid a silver necklace. It had a grey triangle in the middle and in its center stuck a bloodred, starshaped gemstone. An unicorn's head and pegasi wings had been forged at the triangle.

The Shadowbolts took their place in the Nocturnal Children. Again the whole group ducked down like an omega wolf in front of its alpha. Their ears were pirked up and their eyes followed Nightmare Moon's movement shyly. The dark mare took a step forward and lowered her head. Her horn started to glow cyan and so did the Amulet. It rose from its place and floated upwards, before it stopped in front of the Shadow-Alicorn.

Nightmare closed her eyes and tilted her head back. Her horn glowed more. The Amulet started to rotate around her, glowing red like the devil's eye. It kept this movement for a while, but then abruptley Nightmare Moon stopped her spell and dropped the object back on the scarf. She tilted her head aside, her mane softly dancing around her shoulders. Amentia pirked up her ears as the mare mumbled something to herself: „That is not enough.“

The Nocturnal Children shared worried glances. Whatever Nightmare Moon had been attempted to do, it had not worked. Had they made a mistake? Had they brought her the wrong amulet? Was it not as powerful as they all had thought?

Amentia sensed thousands of glances in her back and knew, that they were blaming her. I have done nothing wrong. Our Queen had shown me the object in a dream. She must know, what she is doing. The pegasus mare put her ears back. She crunched her teeth. Was this a test? But what was Nightmare Moon testing from her children?

Amentia's choking anger vanished partly as Nightmare Moon adressed the crowd again: „You have done very well, but we still need more of them, if we want to fullfill the first steps of my master plan.“ The Nocturnal Children gasped in surprise. Amentia furrowed her brow. How can there be more amulets? And why did I not heard of them before? She shot a questioning look at her siblings, but Deimos and Phobos shook their head. They too had no idea, what was going on. Whispers filled the Nocturnal Children.

The Shadow-Alicorn flapped her wings and with a high-pitched shout she broke silence back to the group. „Yes“, stated Nightmare, „We definitley need more of them. I know, that the others are hiden somewhere. I will make someone search for us without knowing. For now, my children, you all take cover and wait for my sign. I shall choose three of you, who shall follow our sleuth dog, and when he found all gems, they shall bring them to me. Until now I suspect you to take care of the Alicorn Amulet. Until we meet again.“

The meeting was over. The ponies could sense it. Nightmare Moon slowly started to transform herself back into shadows. As a last greeting the Nocturnal Children called: „You are the Queen and we are your instruments!“ Then the dark mare was gone as silent and sudden as she had arrived. The ponies looked at one another. Very slowly the members of the group started to dissipate.

Amentia stood up and trotted towards the Alicorn Amulet. „What are you plotting?“, asked Phobos alarmed as he watched her, grabbing the necklace. „Store it, until it is needed“, explained Amentia with a grumbling sound. She moved her head carefully, until the necklace snapped around her neck. Slowly the mare let go of it. Her eyes flashed red for a couple of seconds. Then the pegasus took flight and her brothers followed after a short hesitation. They flew in the direction of the moon, deep into the forest to their hiding place.

Author's Note

This chapter was inspired by the Perlude of Past Sins.

Nightmare Night

Princess Luna sat at her dressing table and eyed herself thoughtfully in the mirror as she brushed her mane. The night was young like a fresh blossomed daisy and she had much to do. More then usual. Tonight was a special night. The Nightmare Night Festival in Ponyville. Ever since Luna had appeared at this celebration almost five years ago, she had come back to the town at every Nightmare Night. It should become a tradition.

Luna threw her head back and watched her mane floating around her neck and shoulders. It was like syrup and partly transperent. The hair had the colour of the night sky at summer. A rich cobaltblue together with thousands of white dots, sparkeling and shimmering. It was not fully transperent like Celestia's. There was a small space at the mane's edge, through which one could see. It had a violet tone in it. Luna simply was not yet old enough for getting her mane in the shape her sister had. Blimley, she did not had her size yet!

There was of course a reason for that. A rather sad one. After Nightmare Moon had corrupted her, Luna's biological growth had abruptley stopped. Alicorns were growing different from the other races. Their physical appearance revealed their magical status. The older an Alicorn got, the stronger and powerful it became.

Nightmare Moon had hold Luna's magic down and drained it from her. When the Elements of Harmony had freed the Princess from her inner demon, she had been reborn with very low magical abilities. She hardly had had the sieze of Twilight and her friends and her mane had been strands. Even her coat had been fair blue. Luna had to regain her magic and start the biological growth all over again. If it had not been for Nightmare Moon, she would have had her fully mature form by now.

Luna eyed her mane critically. I will have to look scary for tonight. But I cannot disguise myself as Nightmare Moon again. I have done that too often. No, for tonight she had ordered the royal tailor to make her a scary costume. After all this festival was the only festival, where she could have fun being scary and dark. It always eased her mind. But it did not made the guilt vanish.

There was a quiet squee and something furry climbed up her leg. Luna gasped softly in shock. „Tibbles, watch it.“ The Princess rose her left frontleg. The animal, which hold on her hoof and wrapped its naked tail around her ancle, could have been a rat, but Luna's good eyes knew it was an opposum.

Tiberius had been her pet for some winters by now. He had about the size of a rat and even a similar shape: an angular head and a long, slender body. Gray fur with darker stripes. Tiny, pink ears and adorable beady eyes. And this long, pink, furless tail.

Tiberius hopped on her dressing table. He looked at himself in the mirror and licked his paws, before he brushed his own fur. It was a funny habit of him. Trying to mimic her. Luna chuckled and softly caressed his back with her hoof. „Yes, I am excited as well, Tibbles“, the mare said, „But I am not nervous. I look forward to enjoy myself. Do you know, if my costume is done by now? I think, my kleinsmaid mentioned, it should be finished this afternoon. Where is she anyway?“

As if somepony had waited for this question, a soft knock at her chamber's door could be heard. Luna placed the brush on the table. „Come in“, the blue mare called and turned around. The door was pushed open and a lemon green mare in a maid's dress entered. She was pushing a box forward and used her wings as a help. Her eyes were as white as snow and looked oddly blanc.

Cloudeye had used to be a worker at the weather factory in Cloudsdale. But after a tragic accident she had lost her eyesight. How ironically! Her former name had been Beautiful Eye. But now due to the look of her eyes the ponies had named her Cloudeye. Luna had taken the blind and unemployed pegasus in her care and had chosen her as her kleinsmaid, one of the very few, who were allowed to enter her private chamber. Unlike Celestia Luna chose her servants under another condition. They should be able to work in complete darkness. But in Cloudeye's case it had also been pity that had made her chosen the mare.

„Your costume has arrived, your Highness“, said Cloudeye and placed the packet in front of the Princess. Luna smiled and carefully opened the box. It contained yellow contact lenses, some shading spray, a circular brush, scissors and a pair of false fangs. Depper in the package was a rope and a bottle, full of fake blood.

Luna smiled pleased as she unpacked the box. „This is very nice“, the Moon Princess muttered, „Thanks for the deliver, Cloudeye. Thou art dismissed for tonight. Have some fun.“ Cloudeye did not seemed surprised at all that Luna still spoke with her old, Marespearean accent. She used her Royal Canterlot Voice (with a lower tone) for orders to her own servants and they all were perfectly fine.

Cloudeye bowed and walked backwards. „I take my leave, your Highness“, she said, before she slipped through the door, „If you need anything, just call for me.“ Luna heard the dull sound as the door closed. She turned her head back to face the mirror. Midnightblue fur, majestic wings, sapphirre eyes and a floating mane. Luna smirked as she started to levitate the shading spray and directed it towards her neck. Time to create a monster.

***

„Applejack“, complained Applebloom impatiently, „Come on! We will be late for the Nightmare Night Festival.“ The youngest child of the Apple family was standing in the kitchen and stared at the stairs, which lead to the family member's bedroom. Applejack was still up there, getting into her dress. Applebloom rolled her shoulders and turned her head around. Her own costume tweaked at her hips.

She was wearing a pair of fake, black ears on her head in front of the big loop, which hold her ponytail together. There was dark paint all over her face around the eyes and snout. She even had a fake nose with small plastic whiskers. Applebloom's hooves were kept in black socks and around her hips were several ropes, which hold a long cat tail in its place, which was whipping around like wire rope, around which black fabric had been wrapped.

Applebloom was going as Ovinnik, a ghost from old folklore, who appeared as a black cat. The ponies believed, he was the guardian of the barns and if anything mispleased him, he placed fire to the house of the farmer.

Finally Applejack climbed down the stairs. She had dressed up as a scarecrow, but placed a hollow pumpkin on her head, in which she had scratched a terrible grimace. No wonder, she had taken her time to finish her costume. Applebloom bite her lips to avoid herself bursting laughing. Oh my Celestia, you look hidious, AJ! That pumpkin was too large for the costume. It was a surprise that the orange mare could still walk.

Applejack chuckled and her laughter sounded weirdly hollow due to the vegetable hat she was wearing. „Oh, calm down, lil' sister“, she said, „We won't be too late. The festival has not even started.“
Applebloom snatched her basket and while jumping up and down, explained: „But we will be too late for Trick or Treat. All the good stuff will be gone.“ She pulled Applejack at the leg. „Come on.“ Her older sister sighted and, rolling her eyes, followed Applebloom.

***

The night was rather pale because of the thousands candles and glowing pumpkins, which stood everywhere. The citizens had decorated their houses either with the symbol of Nightmare Night, the silhouette of Nightmare Moon's head, or moons, stars and other shimmering objects. Applebloom knocked at every door, in which house glowed a light, and sang happily the children's chorus to beg for some sweets:

„Nightmare Night, what a fright!

Give me something sweet to bite!“

Most villagers laughed and were happy to give some treats: chocolate bars, cookies, lollipops, gummy bears. Applebloom's small basket slowly started to fill. The little filly had to use all her willpower to not start eating everything at once. Otherwise she could not offer anything to the Nightmare Moon stature.

They were walking over the major street, when Applejack nodded her chin towards Sugarcube Corner, a building, which looked like a giantic ginger bread house itself. The perfect commercial for all the tasty goodies the backery was selling. „Hey, look“, Applejack said, smiling, „Your friends.“

In front of the door stood four ponies. Two pegasi and two unicorns. One of the pegasi had hidden most of her fair blue fur under a white supervisor suit or professor blouse. She was wearing white horseboots and a pair of goggles stuck on her mane. Next to her stood a small snake on four orange legs. The elder of the unicorns had dressed herself up as a rather beautiful, noble lady, but Applebloom spotted blood all over the fabric. She was accompaigned by a small vampire.

„Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle!“, called Applebloom and ran to her friends. They embraced one another in a bear hug.
„You made it“, said Sweetie Belle. She took a step back and flattened her cloak.
„You look wonderful“, found Applebloom and scanned her from top to bottom.
„Thanks. Rarity made the outfit for me, when she was working on her own.“

Applejack followed Applebloom before she stopped and eyed Rarity with a lifted eyebrow. „What in the hay are you supposed to be?“, she asked critically, „Another vampire?“
Rarity gasped and angrily lifted her head.
„Really Applejack“, she demanded to know, „Isn't it obvious, that I am representing a historical figure? I am Elizabeth Colthory, the Blood Lady, who killed many young mares for she thought their blood would refresh her skin.“

Rainbow Dash and Applejack shared disgusted glances.
„Oh, that is terrible“, found the farmer and curled her lips.
„Yes, it was“, Rarity said and puffed up her mane, „She must have had a dreadful sense of fashion. And what are you, dearest Applejack? A scarecrow with a pumpkin head.“
Applebloom snickered, because she could tell from the way Applejack's tail was twitching, that she was embaressed. „Yeah, Ah run out of ideas.“

Rarity whistled. „Nevermind.“ She smiled. „And what are you, Rainbow Dash?“
Rainbow hit her chest with a hoof and smirked proudly and partly sinister. „Not what, who“, she declared and explained with an enthusiastic gesture, „I am Doctor Horrible!“ All ponies lifted their eyes. Applebloom shot a questioning look at Scootaloo. Who is that suppose to be?

Rainbow Dash was clearly upset, that nopony could tell her costume. She flew at one spot and explained: „The newest villain in the latest Daring Do book. Daring Do and the Freezeray. Doctor Horrible steals the Platium Spectra to enpower his Freezeray, so he can rule the world. He is a wicked mastermind, a crazy psychopath with a weird love interest. Which is the reason, why he is evil. Of course Daring Do stops him and even uses the Freezeray on him, before potential damage can be done. The whole story is just super excited and totally awesome!“

„Aha“, responded everyone.
Applebloom looked at her friends. „Have you already knocked?“, she asked.
Scootaloo shook her head. „But our baskets are already really full.“ She picked up hers and shook it.
Sweetie Belle smiled with closed eyes. „We have so many sweets. I bet, we can eat all night.“

Applebloom knocked against the door and even before the three could sing their chorus, it was open with a fast, enthusiastic movement, making it slam against the wall. In the doorway stood a pink earth pony, dressed up as a duck. Around her neck hang a basket. „Oh, there you are!“, called the mare, who was about Rarity's, Rainbow Dash's and Applejack's age., „Come on, let's go and get some candy.“

As she handed the Cutiemark Cursaders some sweets and stuffed a bar into her basket, Rarity asked choked: „Pinkie Pie, aren't you a little bit too old for this?“
Pinkie looked up and asked shocked: „Too old for free candy?“ Her eyes narrowed and she put her ears back. „Never!“
Applejack sighted. „Rarity, don't question it. That is Pinkie Pie.“

Applebloom laughed. „Come on. Ah think, we can still get some sweets.“ Her friends nodded and the three foals started to run in the direction of the library. Pinkie Pie shrieked: „Wait for me!“ and ran after them. Luckly the Cutiemark Cursaders had already so many sweets in their baskets, that they were slowed down a bit.

The library was laying in a giantic, old oak. The darkbrown wood was covered in scars from the ages. But the house had a few windows, in which shone light, and a door. The green leaves rustled in the wind. Scootaloo hammered against the door. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom stepped by their side and waited eagerly.

The door went open and a purple unicorn stepped out. She was wearing a long cloak, made of brown jute. The hood had been pulled in her face. A small rope was wrapped around her neck and under the cloak the ponies could see a leather saddleback, stuffed with quill, ink bottles and parchment roles.

Their voices rang in the air as the three Cutiemark Cursaders sang: „Nightmare Night, what a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!“ Twilight Sparkle laughed. „Hey girls“, she said, „Looks like you were diligent, collecting sweets all evening.“ She used her magic to drop lollipops and candy bars into the baskets.
„Thanks, Twilight“, responded Applebloom and the others nodded to show their gratefullness.

Suddenley Pinkie Pie brusted through the trio and shouted: „I want some too!“ Twilight sighted and rolled her eyes, before she gave the pink mare her ration, who awaited it with huge, happily glowing eyes.

„Twilight, yah look really nice“, said Applejack.
Immediatley the unicorn started to pose. „Like it?“, she asked.
„Oh, yes“, responded the farmer, „You make a fantastic pilgrim.“
„Pilgrim?“, repeated Twilight and sounded offended, „I am....“
„Maredulas!“, interrupted Rainbow Dash her and jumped into the air, „From the Horse of the Ring trilogie.“

Twilight responded sharply: „No, actually I am Clover the Clever.“
The others mumbled: „Hadn't she had to do something with the tale of Hearth's Warming Eve?“
„Even more!“, explained the unicorn enthusiastically, „Clover the Clever was Starswirl's apprentice. She created the Fire of Friendship. She solved the Riddle of the Sphinx. She studied wild nature and its magic. She cataloged 1500 plants and animals and gave them their name's in the acient language. Because of her we know that cockatrice's are relatives of dragons. She even made the theory, that a cockatrice is the link between dragons and phoenixes.“

Scootaloo whispered: „We should better go to the festival, before we get an one hour lecture on Clover the Clever.“ Sweetie Belle, who was chewing on a gummy bear, agreed with a fast nod. Applebloom snatched Applejack's sleeve and pulled at it.
Her big sister seem to understand the hint, because she said: „We should go to the festival.“
And the mane six and the Cutiemark Cursaders set off.

***

Ponyville had two market places. One in the center of the town and one near the Everfree Forest, just a few miles away from Fluttershy's cottage. This place was, where the Nightmare Night Festival took place. It was a Ponyville tradition. Several stands have been build, where one could buy pumpkin pie, cherry punch, apple cider, sweet bones and other snacks. There were many activities for childrens and adults alike: Snapping apples, Hit the Spider's web and Flying Pumpkin. All those things were really fun to participate, but they all had a touch of terror and fright in them. Of course not too much. Only enough to make you shiver in excitement.

Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were pushing themselves through the hordes of ponies, which stood in front of a small stage. They knew, Major Mare would held a speech. But that was not really interesting for the young fillies. No, they waited for Zecora, the enchantress and storyteller, who lived in the Everfree Forest.

„Fillies and Gentlecolts!“ Major Mare stood in front of a lectern, the microphone almost touched her snout. She was wearing a silly ballerina costume: a thight, bright pink dress with a big, overhanging skirt with too many frill. „Welcome to the Nightmare Night Festival. I hope, you all enjoy yourself.“

„And now I would like to ask our fillies, who have collected their sweets, to follow Zecora, so they can give their treats to the Nightmare Moon stature.“ Mayor Mare leaned forward, made big, girly eyes and added in a clichéed spooky voice: „You do not want Nightmare Moon to gobble you up, do you?“

Scootaloo whispered into her friend's ears: „That spooky voice would have worked better without her ballerina costume.“ Sweetie Belle nodded, snickering.
Applebloom pointed at the stage. „Hey, look everypony!“ Green, sparkeling smoke filled the plattform and out of this fog stepped Zecora. She was wearing a traditional mask from her homeland: a wooden, twisted face, around which was a mane out of fur.

Zecora had a smoky, calm, but underlying scary voice. „Follow me and very soon you'll hear the tale of Nightmare Moon.“ She waved her long, black robes, which followed her moves, rustleing and whispering. Immediatley everypony, who had a basket with sweets, ran after the mare.

Zecora led the children into a valley at the edges of the Everfree Forest. There alone and threatening stood the stature of a mare, who had risen to her hindlegs. Her bat-like wings were spread, her front legs kicked around. Her eyes were narrowed and she had a wide, wicked grin, revealing sharp fangs. The stature was attired in an armour. She wore a silky helmet and a necklace around her neck. Also large horseshoes.

The children dropped parts of their candy on the floor, gathered around Zecora and waited. Although Applebloom had heard the tale ahundred times, she never got tired. Zecora had a way to fascinate everypony, young and old, with her marvelous storytelling.

Zecora softly blew more of her magical, green dust in the air, which enwrapped itself around the ponies, shapeshifting, as the zebra's calm voice filled the ear's of her listener's with living pictures:

„Listen close my little dears, I'll tell you where you got your fears.

A Nightmare Night, so dark and scary. Of Nightmare Moon, who makes you weary.

Every year we put on a disguise to safe ourselves from her searching eyes.

For Nightmare Moon wants just one thing: to gobble up ponies in one quick swing!

Hungrily, she soars through the sky. If she sees no pony, she passes by.

So if she comes and all is clear, Equestria is safe for another year.“
During the tale the Cutiemark Cursaders had clamped to one another, shivering in excitement. Applebloom had closed her eyes during the tale and tried to picture everything. From Nightmare Moon's massive wings, the sweat in her fur to the wide opened maw, full of sharp teeth and a long, red tongue, which would wrap itself around her to pull her into the hungry mouth. Oh no, I would not get myself eaten! I would defend myself! Maybe Applebloom would use a few sticks. Or she would wrap the slender mare in the map of Equestria, which hang in Cherrylie's classroom. Then she would throw the packet in the river, so Nightmare Moon could not harm anypony anymore. Maybe she would even gain her Cutiemark from this act.

Of course these were all fantasies, but Applebloom enjoyed it to dream every now and then. Now the fillies searched the sky with their eyes. They knew after the tale Princess Luna usually came always in another way to scare her beloved subject. But neither Applebloom, nor Scootaloo, nor Sweetie Belle could find the Princess.

Finally Pipsqueak, who was a big fan of Luna, asked Zecora: „Ehm, Mrs Zecora, do you know, when Princess Luna will come.“
The zebra pulled back her mask partly and looked up at the sky. Her eyes shimmered amber in the moonlight. „I am sure, the Princess of the Moon will here anytime soon“, she said, „Until she arrives in all her glory, who would like to hear another horror story?“ With loud cheers the fillies gathered around Zecora, who sat down and rose her voice:

„Far away in a distant land,

there is a place no one dares

to enter for it is haunted by a mischievous mare.

And when the moon shines, you might meet your end.

Her shoulders bear leather wings.

Her cry sounds like the song, the devil sings.

Her coat is as black as coal.

If you hear her howl, it is already to late.

You are about to meet your fate.

For she will take your soul!

Her teeth are sharp like daggers, cooled in snow.

Do not follow, where she leads you to go.

For then she will have her feast.

Beware of the Neverland's Beast!“
Again Zecora's storytelling had caused a true fright by the fillies. They screamed in panic and Pipsqueak and Pinkie Pie ran around hectically. It was in all those noises that Applebloom heard a noise. The crunching of a branch. „What was that?“, asked the yellow filly anxiously. Her body stretched and she pirked up her ears. Again the snapping branch. Something was moving. A bush rustled. Way too loud for a small rabbit to hide behind it. What is going on?

A low howling sound echoed through the valley. Everybody froze. Sweetie Belle asked: „What was that?“
Scootaloo chewed at her hoof and put her ears back. „I do not want to know.“
Fear tickled Applebloom's back with black fingers. Zecora's tale is just an old mare's story, isn't it? Her eyes were wide as she stared at the bush. It rustled stronger and the howling repeated. Yellow eyes flashed between the leaves. Applebloom's ears started to twitch nervously and out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Scootaloo, hopping on the spot nervously. They all wanted to get away, desperately. But curiosity was the curse, which hold them in their place.

Finally as the tension reached its highest limit a growl could be heard. Applebloom's heart stopped beating for the glisple of a second, before it started to beat even faster. Why are we still standing here? Out of the bush shot something large, dark, leather wings bashing the air, and snowwhite teeth shimmered in the moonlight.

Pinkie Pie's loud, shrill cry caught everypony: „It is the Neverland's Beast! EVERPONY, RUN FOR THEIR LIVES!“ The children shrieked in high-pitched sounds and ran off. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo followed at once. The Neverland's Beast had opened its wings and roared out of its lounges. Mane and tail were a mass and Applebloom thought, she spotted blood at the corner of the monster's mouth.

They all hide behind a large tree. Sweating and nervously Applebloom and her friends peeked around the truck. The Beast stood next to Zecora, only inches away. „Zecora!“, shouted Sweetie Belle, „Run!“ But the zebra did not even seem to think about that. She just stood there and started to laugh silently. The Neverland's Beast folded its wings, before it smiled and laughed as well.

Applebloom's yaw dropped. I know this laughter. It was soft, deep, sparkeling like a small stream, floating over stones. And it clearly sounded amused. The farmer's surprised face changed to relief and joy as the realisation hit her. This all had been a carefully planned prank. „Princess Luna!“, called Applebloom and the children came out of their hiding place and surrounded the Princess of the Night.

Luna had dyed her coat into a dark greyish tone. She was wearing yellow contact lenses and a pair of fake fangs. The mare had painted a few drops of false blood on the corners of her mouth and on the teeth. Her mane, former transperent and floating, now was a mass of thick, fetty strands. Her tail looked like the one of a wild cat.

Princess Luna laughed and lifted an hoof. „Happy Nightmare Night, my youngest subjects!“, she called.
Cheers surrounded her and Scootaloo said: „That was awesome! I really thought, you were the Neverland's Beast for a couple of seconds.“ Pipsqueak wrapped his frontlegs around Luna's neck and hugged her thightly. „Best prank ever!“

The Alicorn chuckled. The fillies took their baskets and handed her some sweets. Luna said: „I think, we should go back now, shouldn't we?“ Applebloom laughed and the Cutiemark Cursaders ran around the Princess as they slowly walked back to the festival. The other children started to amuse themselves and head to several amenities. The three fillies guided Luna to the mane six, which were waiting at Applejack's Snatching Apple stand.

„Hello, Princess“, said Twilight.
„Good evening, Twilight“, responded Luna with a smile, „How is everypony?“
„Just awesome!“, called Rainbow Dash, who snatched a small thundercloud, „I go and prank some ponies. See you!“
She dashed off, although Twilight called after her: „But be careful!“

In the meantime Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom were telling Rarity and Applejack Luna's prank. The white unicorn whistled. „Haven't you gone a bit too far with that one, Princess?“, she asked.
Princess Luna shook her head. „It was all for good fun and I was really careful. I do not want to scare my subjects for real.“

„But you have to admit, her costume is awesome!“, yelled Scootaloo, „Not like Twilight's farmer thing.“
„Hey!“ The call came from Twilight, Applejack and Applebloom. Do you have anything against a good farmer, Scootaloo?
The orange pegasus flinched at the angry glances and turned pink around her snout. „I am sorry“, she mumbled and flapped her tiny wings, „I did not meant to offend anyone.“

Twilight responded: „Well, I am not a farmer, but...“
„Clover the Clever“, determinded Princess Luna, „A commandable costume. You even got her belt right.“
For the first time in this evening the unicorn looked proud. She threw her head back and said pleased: „Finally! Somepony, who gets my costume.“
Luna explained: „We knew Clover during the Ancient Times. Because we were friends with Princess Platinum, we knew her as well.“
Rarity's maw dropped in surprise. „You...you were friends with Princess Platinum?!“
„Well, yes. We teached her the Royal Canterlot Voice.“

Scootaloo mumbled: „I am bored. Can we do something funny? Maybe snatching apples?“
Applejack laughed. „Well, just watch out, yah three do not fall into the pond.“
The three Cutiemark Cursaders gathered around the barrel, in which swam red apples in clear water. Applebloom felt a grumbling sound in her stomach. A good apple would be just fine now. The yellow filly closed her eyes and pushed her head into the water.

It felt cool and soft around her. Applebloom snapped under water, until her teeth scratched over an apple. She brusted out of the water and eyed the fruit, tried to locate it. Ah get yah now, apple! She took another deep breath, closed her eyes and dove in. Her mouth opened and her teeth digged themself into the apple with a low crunch.

Applebloom pulled back her head. Mmmh. The rich flavour of the fruit filled her maw. Aromatic, juice and a bit soar. The yellow filly placed the apple in her hoof and took another bite. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were still snapping after their apples. Even Princess Luna had lowered her head to get one of the tasty fruits. Unlike the Cutiemark Cursaders she did not have to stand on her hindlegs to reach her meal.

Applebloom kept eating her apple and asked: „What are we going to do now? Would you like to join us Luna?“
The Princess chewed her piece of apple, before she swallowed. „I would love to“, she said then.
Scootaloo responded: „I would like to play Hit the Spider's web. Who is with me?“

***

The stand was near the Snatching Apple barrel. Between two sticks somepony had strained a fake plastic spider web. A few feeth in front of it on a table stood a bowl full of sticky toy spiders. Scootaloo snatched one of them. Then using her tiny wings as an aid to get more sweep the pegasus jumped into the air, rose an hoof and slammed the spider against the web. The toy hit a few inches away from the middle and stuck there.

Scootaloo landed on the ground with a proud smirk. She turned to her friends. „Top that.“
Applebloom smiled and shared a estimating glare with Sweetie Belle. Who would make this race?
The unicorn offered: „You go first. You do not have any aid like magic or wings.“
Applebloom showed her muscles. „I have my strength“, she said with a smile that could make a bandit proud. Sure she was not as strong as Applejack, leave alone Big Macintosh, but she still was an Earth Pony.

Applebloom took a spider and turned around to face the web. Let's see. The mare placed the toy on her hoof. She rose to her hindlegs and started to swang her arm back and forth. Her eyes narrowed as she aimed her target. The middle of the web, if everything went smoothly. Then with a low „Niiyyaahhh!“ Applebloom throw the spider. It flew through the air, before it stuck its legs into the fabric – a few inches closer to the middle then Scootaloo's.

„Tada“, the farmer's daughter responded and lifted her chin proudly, „So much to no aids.“
Sweetie Belle squealed: „I can do that better.“ She closed her eyes. Young unicorn's magic were not as strong as the one of a teenager yet, because it was not mature enough. But Sweetie Belle still hold enough power to grab a spider in the embrance of her green light.

Unlike Rarity, who would now stay calm and foccussed, before throwing, while standing there, Sweetie Belle yerked her head backwards – the toy followed the movement, entrapped in green magic – rose to her hindlegs and swang her head forwards, throwing the toy this way. The spider flew and flew and hit another stallion at his backside. He turned around and snorted angrily. Sweetie turned pink around her cheeks and mumbled: „Sorry.“

Luna stepped forwards. „Now thy Princess of the Night has her turn“, she declared. The Cutiemark Cursaders took a few steps backwards and looked at the Alicorn. The mare took a spider in her hoof. She narrowed her eyes and foccused the web. Applebloom and her friends shared excited glances. Come on, Princess, you can do it!

Luna threw the spider in a fast and concentrated movement. She did not even raise to her hindlegs or used her magic. The toy hit the web in its middle. „Huzzah!“, called Luna with a pleased smile, „The fun has been doubled! And I win.“ The three fillies cheered and clapped their hooves. „Bravo Princess!“

At that moment a grey pegasus with a yellow mane and weirdly twisted eyes crashed into the net. She had been looking around and did not paid much attention to her environment. Now the pegasus entangled herself in the web and made it crash down. „Derpy!“, called Twilight, who had followed the Princess, „Watch it.“

She rushed forwards and used her magic to disjoint the strands of the net. Derpy carefully climbed out of the net. Her twisted eyes gloomed in worry and she dropped her ears. „I am very sorry everyone“, appologiced the grey mare, „I have been looking for Dinky Doo.“

„What is the matter with her?“, asked Twilight and rose a brow.
Derpy Hooves sounded like she was about to panic. The pegasus was flapping her wings and flew in front of the Princess, the unicorn and the Cutiemark Cursaders. Gesticulating, she explained: „I cannot find her anywhere. It is like she is gone. Vanished from the ground. I am really scared. What if something happened to her?“

Applebloom asked: „It is Nightmare Night. What if she is just having some fun without you?“
Princess Luna added: „Young Applebloom has a point. This is a celebration to be scary. Maybe she is just pranking you a bit and will come out soon? Or she is eating pumpkin cream?“
Twilight laid an hoof on Derpy's leg. „Don't worry, Derpy. We will keep an eye open for her.“

Derpy rolled her eyes again and her ears twitched. „Oh, I hope, you are right!“ The pegasus flew off and called after the small filly.
Luna watched her flying off. Her wings were partly opened and her ears put back in worry. „I really hope everything is alright“, she whispered. Applebloom looked at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Her friends lifted their shoulders and shook their heads as signs for not knowing where she was.

The fact that Dinky Doo was missing left a bad taste in Applebloom's mouth. She caught herself looking around in hope to find the greypurple unicorn. Had Applebloom looked behind Luna, she would have seen that the Alicorn's shadow had grown unnaturally long and shapeshifted. A mare stood there, opened wings and a horn on her head. She was nothing more then a shadow, but her cyan eyes stared hungrily at Applebloom, before in a fast movement she merged with the darkness around her once more.

Author's Note

How did this chapter got this long? I did not even intended it to be that long. In my notes, that is only one point in the list. Well, I hope, you enjoyed it anyway. Who of you got all my hints?

Quarantine

„This festival has been awesome!“, cheered Applebloom as she walked into the farm house. The yellow foal and her friends had spent the whole evening with Princess Luna, who had played several games with them. The Cutiemark Cursaders had shared their sweets and had enjoyed themselves. Applebloom still loved Nightmare Night for its mixture of fun and scaring.

Now the yellow foal dropped her basket on the floor. There were only some chocolate bars in it, which she had not eaten yet. Applejack pulled off her pumpkin and yawned with an hoof in front of her maw. „Eyyupp“, she mumbled, „And do yah know, what is awesome as well? That a certain little filly must go to sleep now.“
What? Already now? Pouting her lips Applebloom turned around and faced her older sister. „But AJ, Ah am“ – her sentence was cut off by a yawn - „not tired at all. And it cannot be that late already, can it?“

Applejack laughed hoarsely and patted her younger sibling at the backside of her head. „Your eyes are telling something different, sugarcube“, the farmer said, „Besides, it is already past midnight and I think, a cursader like you has to go to sleep, if she does not want to fall behind her friends.“
Applebloom rubbed her eyes and mumbled: „You are right. Scootaloo had the idea, that we should try scating tomorrow. She hopes, because she has got her scooter, it could be her special talent.“

„Aha.“ Applejack nodded in approval and pushed her sister towards the bathroom door: „Well, Applebloom, you are now going to brush your teeth. And then you go to bed. I will come and say goodnight.“ As Applebloom climbed on the small stool and snatched her toothbrust, her elder sister called: „And do not try to fool me like you have done last Nightmare Night. I will check!“
Her mouth already half full of toothpaste, Applebloom mumbled: „Sure, Applejack.“
Then the rhythmic sound of a brush being pushed back and forth filled the bath.

Applebloom's bedroom laid in the garret of the barn. It was a big room with green wall paper and a blue carpet. Her bed stood on the opposite side of the window. It was huge, had a warm mattress and a comfortable, oversized pillow. Applebloom already laid in her bed and looked out of the window. The moon was softly drifting between clouds and fogs, floating around out of the Everfree Forest.

The door cracked open softly and Applejack entered the room. She was without her hat, a sign that she too made herself ready for going to sleep. „Applebloom, are you ready to go to bed?“, she asked.
Applebloom sat up in her bed and smiled, yawning shortly. „Yes, AJ. Ah am.“ Applejack trotted towards the room and stopped in front of her. She rose to her hindlegs and placed her hooves on the blancet.

„Really?“, she asked, „Let me check your breath. Come on, breath on me. Breath on me.“ Applebloom let out a short sight and Applejack sniffed. „That seems to be alright“, found the orange mare. She softly kissed Applebloom's forehead. „Good night, lil' sis“, she mumbled. Applebloom snuggled into the pillow and closed her eyes. „Night, sis“, she whispered and drifted off to sleep.

***

The night shone over the farm. Cool, smooth darkness. An inkblack sky, sprinkled with stars. The moon was the only source for light. Its calm silver bathed the place and turned wooden bars, carts and cats grey. Winona, Applejack's dog, was snorring in her dog house in front of the barn, adding her own personal touch to the symphony of nightly sounds.

Shadows creeped over edges and walls, thrown by trees and the hut. The wind softly rustled in the leaves. Several shadows were thrown at the barn's left wall. They slowly started to change. The simple blackness flickered and blured. A purple shimmer pushed itself over the shadows, which now had the consistent off mist. Very slowly and casually the mist started to climb up the wall.

It softly followed the water pipe, which stuck like iron trees at the corner's of the house. The mist slowly enwrapped itself around the pipe and floated higher and higher, silently, patiently. It did not made any sound. There was only one light in a window. The fog carefully creeped closer and shifted itself partly, forming a silhouette of the helmet, Amentia had been levitating.

The room was Applejack's bedroom. The orange farmer had just hang her hat to a heel in the wall. She yawned and by accident turned her face towards the window. In a fast movmenet the fog ducked out of sight, pressing itself against the sims like a few sticky, dirty algae. „Huh?“ Applejack trotted towards the window. She pushed it open and peeked into the darkness.

„Is anypony there?“, called Applejack. She perked up her ears and tried to listen. But there was only the rustling of the leaves, Winona's peacefull snorring and the chirping of a nightingale. The farmer narrowed her eyes and looked around. But it was too dark. She could hardly make out the silhouette of the carts in the backyard.

„Hmm, I thought, I saw something.“ Applejack rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She yawned once more. „Perhabs Ah am just tired.“ The farmer closed the window and pulled the carpets together. She climbed back into her bed, pushed the blancet over her body and softly snorred herself into sleep.

The mist immediatley flew out of its hiding place. It floated higher and higher. There at the roof's top laid a small window, which was the entrance to Applebloom's bedroom. The young mare had left the window a small crack open to get the cool night air into the room. The space was small. Way too small for a real pony or even small animal to get inside.

But for the fog it was more then enough. Like a slender snake it went through the gap, dripping on the floor like wet paint. There the blackish purple mist carefully stretched itself and shapeshifted once more. While strands of dark mist surrounded her and thickened around her body, a mare slowly came out. She had a sharp, elegant horn and massive, ravenfeathered wings were born from her shoulders. They were pressed thight against the body.

Cyan eyes gleemed pleased as they scanned the area. The door was closed and there was no living being in the room. Apart from Applebloom, who slept peacefully in her bed. A box and a cupboard threw shadow in the room, darkening the mare's coat. The Shadow-Alicorn's lips tilted back, revealing sharp fangs with a snicker. Oh, this is perfect. Way too perfect.

Cautiously and slowly Nightmare Moon approached the bed. Her mane and tail followed her movement, a dark violet fog, rippeling and sparkeling. The soft wooshes hardly made any sounds. The only thing Applebloom could hear was a whispering sound like wind, speaking to her. She turned around under her blanket. The moonlight shone on her peaceful face with the closed eyes.

Nightmare laughed quietly. Her mane and body twisted, becoming the purple fog once more. It made a fast, playful doge, before the Shadow-Alicorn materialised herself right next to the sleeping Applebloom. Another sinister smile plucked at the corner of her lips. Nightmare's horn started to glow cyan and parts of her foggy mane creeped into Applebloom's ear. „Sweet dreams are made of this“, whispered the intruder as the young fillie's face twitched and twisted from the peaceful soul into the stretched, painful grimace of a plagued nightmare.

***

Ponyville's hospital was laying in the center of the town. The large house had a main building, surrounded by two aisles. The roof was red like crimson and rather pointy. In the windows gleemed light. It was in the middle of the night, long after noon and the hospital was full. Way too full. Children and infants were sitting in the waiting room on chairs or leaned against the floor. They all were coughing and their dull eyes hang in their caves. They looked exhausted, extremly painfull and tired.

Applebloom was sitting close to a window on a chair, hugging herself. Applejack had wrapped a long, woolen scarf around her neck. Still the young filly kept coughing and sweating. There was a dirty liquid in her eyes, as if her tears were mixed with oil. She kept shuddering. Applejack had placed her hooves on the chair's backrest. Her worried eyes rested on Applebloom, before with a sight she looked at the door, where the nurse was calling another child in.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood outside of the hospital. The home of the orange pegasus laid extremley close to the building. And as soon as she had spotted Applebloom going inside with Applejack, she had alarmed Sweetie Belle via a strange system of paper airplanes, ropes and bells. A warning system the Cutiemark Cursaders had invented to keep track of one another, if there was any problem. And Applebloom, going into the hospital in the middle of the night, was a problem.

„Can you see anything?“, asked Scootaloo worried. She was standing behind Sweetie Belle, who had climbed on a pile of firewood.
„Not really“, the unicorn admitted.
Are you blind? How difficult can it be to spot a yellow earth pony in a clinic? „Where do you have your eyes?“, called Scootaloo.

She ducked down and desperately flapped her wings to get up the ground. The orange feathers became a blurr in the corner's of her eyes and sweat ran down her mane as soon as she forced her weak wings into this effort. Why was it always so hard to fly? Her body needed wings twice the sieze those had.

Scootaloo clenched her teeth. Come on! Just a little bit more! The buzzing sound of her flapping wings filled the air. „Almost“, mumbled Scootaloo.
Sweetie Belle, who had not paid much attention to her fruitless efforts, had kept looking around. Suddenly she said: „Look! She is over there!“
„Where?“ Scootaloo lost her concentration. In a helpless and shamefull attempt to avoid crashing she snatched Sweetie Belle at the hips and both fillies fell on the ground.

The soft dull sound seemed to be heard by someone, because the front door opened. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo did their best to unknot themselves. „Applebloom!“, called the pegasus, who pushed free under the unicorn's leg. The two Cutiemark Cursaders smiled at their leader.
Applebloom squeaked in joy: „Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo! What are you doing here?“

Scootaloo said with a smirk: „Supporting a friend in need, what else?“ She poked Applebloom in the side.
„Are you alright?“, asked Sweetie Belle caring.
„I am...“ The young farmer's response was cut off by a new series of coughing. The dry, gasping sounds filled the air and Applebloom's head yerked forwards violently. Her voice sounded hoarse and her eyes shot close. She pressed an hoof against her chest, but she looked rather helpless.

Oh no... Worried the two ponies stepped closer and hugged Applebloom as if they could warm her this way. The door opened again. Hooves crunched over the grass and Applejack called anxious: „Applebloom, what are yah doing?!“ She grabbed her younger sister by the shoulder and wrapped the scarf thighter around her neck. „Yah will catch yahr death out here.“ With a soft push of the snout the orange mare guided Applebloom back to the door. „Come, sugarcube. The doctor is waiting.“
„Okay, sis.“

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle watched the two Apple sisters walking back into the hospital. The door closed and the warm light from the room was shut from the outside. The unicorn and the pegasus shared afraid and worried looks. Catching one's death out here. Applebloom's coughing. „She had felt awkwardly warm, hasn't she?“, asked Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo nodded. Worry eclipsed their face.

They did not dare to voice their fear, but both knew what the other one was thinking. Whatever Applebloom had caught herself, it was dangerous. Highly dangerous. So dangerous, that it might cost.... Stop thinking that, Scootaloo! Stop thinking it! You do not even know, what she has. It could be just the flue. It was a weak excuse.

„Come on“, said Scootaloo, „We have to find her.“ Silent and fast the two ponies ran around the house. They jumped on any object, that could help them look into the windows. Not only the waiting room was full of foals and fillies, but the surgery as well. Scootaloo spotted many familiar faces. His classmates Twist and even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon (although she felt no joy, seeing them as weak and sick as the others). There were not just foals her own age, but also infants. Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake. Oh my Celestia, this is not bad, this is terrible!

What had happened during this night? How did it came that almost all children in Ponyville were inflected by a disease? But what disease? It seemed to be the same. Scootaloo could tell, that everypony were suffering the same symptoms.

„I found her“, whispered Sweetie Belle. She already was standing on another window sims. Scootaloo carefully climbed by her side. For a short moment her face enlightened with joy, seeing the familiar face, but in an instant the worry returned. Applebloom sat on a cold metall table, the doctor was checking on her really carefully. She still kept coughing.

Scootaloo's eyes started to water. She shivered and pressed her ears against her head. Oh, Applebloom. What is wrong? The fear clung to her organs. It climbed up her spin and filled her head with horrible images, going so far to picture Applebloom's funeral. Scootaloo hang her head. Her tears dropped down her snout. A look to the side. Sweetie Belle too was crying. She leaned her head against the pegasus' shoulder.

***

„What are you two doing here? Shouldn't you be asleep by now?“ The cool, calm voice made them turn their head. Princess Luna was standing behind them on a small path. Her mane and tail sparkled in the darkness.
Sweetie Belle sighted. „Is this all a dream?“, she asked, sounding childlishy hopefully.
Luna shook her head and came closer. „I am afraid, this is very much real“, the Princess responded, „I sensed that something was wrong in the Dream Realm. Many doors were blocked with a sticky, black liquid. I tried to open them, but couldn't. Therefore I came to see, what was going on.“

Scootaloo sniffed sadly and dropped her ears even more. Sweetie Belle caressed her shoulder. Tears shimmered on her cheeks. „Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle?“ Luna's voice turned worried and symphatetically. She took a step forwards. Her wings trembled at the sudden movement.
„Applebloom is inside there“, explained Scootaloo, not bothering to look up.

Princess Luna rose to her hindlegs and placed her hooves on the sims. „In the hospital? But why?“ Her sapphire eyes watched the doctor pulling a small, wooden stick out of Applebloom's maw, taking a salvia sample. The yellow foal swallowed uncomfortably and rubbed her neck with an hoof. Her ears twitched. Applejack softly patted her back, muttering some words.

Sweetie Belle responded: „She feels warm and she has got a terrible cough.“ The unicorn looked at the Princess, begging for answers. „Princess Luna, what is wrong with her?“ Luna looked into the green eyes and felt Scootaloo's glance on her as well. That was a hard thing about being a ruler supreme. Everypony expected you to know the answer to every problem.

„I do not know“, admitted Luna with a shook of her head, „But I know how to figure it out. Come follow me.“ The mare let go of the sims and slowly trotted along the building, the foals at her ancles. Luna was guiding them to a smaller building behind the house. It had no windows, but a wooden door.

Luna explained: „Due to my night patrouls, I have the keys to the city.“ There were two iron heel, blocking the door from opening. Luna's horn flared bright blue and she used her magic to softly levitated the two nails out of their positions. They softly dropped on the grass beside her with a low jingle.

Luna rose an hoof and pushed the door open a slit. Warm orange light fell on her face and the two Cutiemark Cursaders. Luna looked at them and made an inventing gesture with her hoof. „After you“, she said. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo only starred at the leg. Due to the darkness the darkblue coat almost looked black. They almost seemed surprised or even suspicious.

Luna's smile frown awkwardly, before it dropped. Hanging her head slightly, she made her way into the room. „Dark coats kinda run in my family“, she explained the two foals with some hesitation in her voice, who followed her, „At least a part of my family.“

The Princess had lead her two protegées into the boiler room of the hospital. The orange light, which now filled the entire room, was coming from a huge central-heating boiler. Its warming fire was trapped inside a box of iron with small slits in its door. There was no furniture. Only a hole in the wall. In the dim light the two fillies could spot the silhouette of several pipes.

To their horror Luna was walking straight towards that hole. The blue mare turned around and she saw the uneasy of the two fillies. „Trust me“, Luna only said and smiled softly. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came closer and looked at the dark entrance. Pipes formed knoted walls and dust laid on the metall. A rat rushed past them, quietly squeaking.

The three carefully entered the labyrinth next to the boiler. „Stay close to me“, whispered Luna. Her hooves barley made any sound as she carefully walked through the corridors. The hallway was so small, that the Alicorn had to press her wings against her body and ducked like a cat. The two fillies could easily follow, but there eyes were huge and they seemed to be impressed and nervous.

The air was sticky and dust waved around them with every step. Hardly any light cut through the smooth darkness. A few wet blancets hang over the pipes and steam shot out of broken parts, hissing and fuming. „You don't have to tell me that“, mumbled Sweetie Belle, „Blimley, it is sinister in here.“

They were walking around a corner. Sider web's hang between the wooden bars, which hold the pipes and the corridor itself in place. Scootaloo looked around and bite her bottom lip. „Do not think, we are scared or something“, she mumbled, before her eyes rested on a thick spider in her web, which hang right in front of her face. The pegasus squealed in shock and clung to Sweetie Belle, who rolled her eyes.

Luna turned around. Her eyes glimmered amused. „Sinister?“ With a simple flip of her tail, she destroyed the web. They kept walking as the Princess adressed the two Cursaders: „There hardly is any place in Equestria, which is as beautiful as this one. Many ponies travle miles just to be here.“

The corridor was now going upwards and the hallway seemed to widen. „Here?“ Sweetie Belle lifted an hoof and looked at a dirty piece of blancet. The water soaked in her fur. „I am sure, Rarity would hardly take a step in here. And I am not sure, what should be so great about this place.“

Luna softly placed a wing on her shoulder. „That's because you are looking at the bowl, half empty.“ They have reached the halls underneath the hospital. The celling was the clinic's floor. There was a grid, through which the warm air, which fumed around here, floated out and warmed the patients. A lamp shone through the grid, standing on a nightstand.

Luna walked towards the center of the place. „Can you see this?“ The Princess carefully pushed several colourful shards to a small pile. „The tips of the Crystal Mountains of the Crystal Empires.“
Sweetie Belle responded annoyed: „Princess Luna, those are broken bottles. And they are not half empty, they are completely hollow.“

The Alicorn nodded towards the lamp and whispered: „The sun.“ Her sapphire eyes rested on the wall behind the two fillies. She smiled caringly and stepped aside with the words: „And in the north.“ Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle turned around. Their faces enlightened in amazement. The lamp's light was breaking through the glass shreds and threw a colourful rainbow at the wall.

„The Northern Lights!“, called Scootaloo. Luna stepped by the cursaders' side.
Sweetie Belle watched the wonderful play, before she whispered: „You were right, Princess. It is beautiful!“
The blue Alicorn sighted. „What is the purpose of darkness, if there is no light to shine the way, you are going?“, she asked, without demanding an answer. It was a simple lesson, hidden in a nice metaphor.

The harmony was broken apart as shadows fell on them. Luna looked up and so did Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They heard coughing sounds and spotted the orange coat of Applejack, who was standing in front of the bed. „Ah am freezing“, whimpered Applebloom.
Her older sister softly caressed her head. „Don't worry, sugarcube“, she responded, „Ah will give yah a second blancet and then you have it comfortable and warm.“ She kissed the yellow mare's forehead.
Applebloom asked worried: „What if I have another nightmare?“
„This won't happen. I promise.“

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Luna ran after Applejack, who walked out of the room. Obviously Applebloom was so ill, that she had to stay in the hospital. The Cursaders and the Princess found themselves under a new room. It seemed to be the doctor's office for they spotted a table and several shelves, full of bottles of medicine and other medical supplies.

„How is she, Doctor?“, asked Applejack. Her ears twitched worried and she clenched her hat against her chest.
The sandbrown unicorn put of his small glasses and cleaned them. With a low sigh Doctor Horse explained: „Exhausted from coughing.“ His ears dropped and he looked at the shelves with the medicine bottles.

„It looks like Nightterror“, Doctor Horse explained, „She is the eighteen case in this day.“ The unicorn levitated several bottles and let them swirl around him while he examined the titles. With a frustrated shake of the head, he brought every bottle back in its place. „And I don't know how to cure it.“

Luna's ears turned around as she heard a whimpering sound. The mare had concentrated so much on the doctor's words, that she had not looked after the Cursaders. As she looked for them, she saw Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo running out of the boil system. „Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle!“, the mare called and ran after them.

She only reached them in the boiler room. The two foals were breathing heavily. Tears glithered in Sweetie's eyes and she sniffed. Scootaloo looked desperate and full of fear. Guilt flashed in Luna. You foal! You scared the heck out of them! „I am sorry!“, Luna called and made a careful step in the crying fillie's direction, „I should not have brought you here.“

Sweetie Belle whispered: „It is fine, Luna. It was perhabs good, that you showed us what is going on. We are old enough to know.“
Scootaloo asked: „Princess, can't you maybe heal Applebloom and the others? I mean, you are the guardian of dreams. You can change them. I have seen it.“ Hopeful eyes rested on her.

Luna flinched uncomfortably. She turned her head aside and avoided the glances. „I am sorry“, the Alicorn responded, „This is something I cannot do. This disease, it was made a way to not be cureable by my powers.“ Sweetie Belle's and Scootaloo's eyes widened in shock. Luna lifted her head and her sapphire glance burned into those innocent eyes. „Applebloom is the only one, who can slow the disease down. I gave my subjects the abilitie to change their dreams a bit, if they realize, they are dreaming.“

She opened her wings and pulled Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle in an embrance. Luna placed her head on their mane. The mare closed her eyes. She whispered: „But you can do something. Just stay with her. Show her that she is not alone. It may have an important impact on her strength.“ The two Cursaders nodded at one another.

Luna stood up once more. She ordered: „But now you must go home. I am sure, Rarity and your parent's are sick with worry. It is already almost dawn. You will have to go to sleep sometime.“
Sweetie Belle nodded and yawned. „Come, Scootaloo.“ The two Cursaders ran out of the boiler room.

Princess Luna followed much slower. She slowly walked to the hospital's main gate. Her hooves left dark prints on the cool gras. The mare closed her eyes and pushed her ears back. A low sight escaped her lips. Oh, Applebloom... It was like falling back in time. She had hoped, she would never have to face this again. But now she was on the other side of the coin. The victim, not the predator.

A clicking sound let her open her eyes again. Luna spotted Doctor Horse, coming out of the building. He had closed his eyes in pain. The stallion was levitating a shield, covered in dust, behind him. In a slow and feeble movement he hang the shield at the main door. Doctor Horse rose to his hindlegs and whiped the dust away. Shaking his head and rubbing his neck, he slowly walked back into the hospital to his patients.

Luna felt a lumb in her throat as she eyed the red captial letters on the shield: QUARANTINE. It seemed like it had been months, decades, scince Ponyville's doctor ever had the need to place this warning at his hospital. The Princess panted in shock and her eyes started to water. Oh, no! „Applebloom....“

Another sound reached her ear. Luna trotted through the streets of Ponyville. They were weirdly deserted. No light in the windows. The ponies shunned themselves away in a nameless fear. They did not feared the night, by Creator's holy powers no! They feared this disease, which had come over the town like the Black Death.

Luna soon found the source of the sound. Somepony was hammering nails in wood. This worker was living in a small, wooden house. A gas lamp gave him light. Luna carefully peeked through the open door, while she hide herself partly. The Earth Pony was standing at a table and worked at a object with a very certain form: A long stretched hexagon, made out of dark wood.

With a slow and sad movement the stallion grabbed the object and carried it to the opposite wall. He carefully placed the items there. Next to it stood several constructs, which all looked like the first one. The only difference was the sieze. Some were large enough to keep a fully grown pony, some were only filly or even foal sieze.

Luna backed away and her eyes widened. Tears floated down her cheek. Bittersweet shock. Coffins. Those pony was making coffins. Luna shook her head and flinched uncomfortably. She turned her head away, her ears against her head. „Applebloom.“ The mare spread her wings and took into the nightsky. Powerful flaps brought her into the direction of Canterlot.

While Luna had only seen the carpenter, there was also somepony else awake. Mayor Mare was dictating a fax to Derpy Hooves, which had the following words: „Repeat! Stop. Urgent help needed. Stop. Nightterror in Ponyville. Stop. Town in great danger. Stop. Please help us. Stop.“

A story told

Her hooves thundered over the ground. Luna was sprinting through the halls of Canterlot towards the throne room. This is bad, this is really bad! Her heart hammered against her chest and her eyes were wide in fear and recognition. She had done her best to stay calm and focused when the Cutiemark Crusaders had been around, but now the tragedy crushed down on her with all its weight.

She had wished, this terror would never ever strike again over the ponies. It had been over a decade, since Nightterror had been reported. So how had Doctor Horse even known about the symptoms? Maybe one of his ancestors had worked in a clinic during the epidemic and wrote something down. Who knew?

Luna did not even asked the guards to announce her. In fact she rushed passed them and swung the door open. The large wings slammed against the walls. Princess Luna stood there. Sweat fumed in her coat and she was breathing in a fast wheeze. Celestia sat on her throne. Her calm and focused pose changed at once as she laid her dawncoloured eyes on her younger sister.

„Luna?“, called Celestia, „What is the matter?“ The Solar Princess rose from her throne and was about to walk to her younger sibling. Luna's hooves clicked over the red carpet as she walked towards the throne. Her ears twitched and her mane followed her movements in a fast and whispering manner. Her eyes were dark with worry.
„We have a serious problem, Tia“, responded Luna, „Last night I visited Ponyville and I found out, that nearly all children are inflected by.....“

Before the Princess of the Night could finish her sentence, another guard ran into the room. It was one of Celestia's Solar Guards, an Earth Pony. He was carrying a small package on his back. The white colt stopped in front of the two Princesses and bowed. „A telegram, your Highness“, he said and handed Celestia a folded and printed letter.

Luna lifted a brow curiously. She looked at her older sister, who began to read the letter. Her face eclipsed. „I suppose this is the reason, why you came her in the first place“, asked Celestia worried and allowed Luna to held the letter in her blue magic. The Princess briefly read over it. It was from the Mayor of Ponyville and said, that the whole town was inflected by Nightterror. Mayor Mare also asked for help.

Luna lowered the letter and looked at her sister. „Yes“, she said simply. Celestia was walking towards the colourful glass windows, which depicted Equestrian History. Her eyes rested on the painted glass, which showed a black mare with a silvery armor, risen to her hindlegs. The artist had added dark red tones around her to symbolize the terror, she had brought among the nation.

Celestia sighted and closed her eyes. „Not again“, she only whispered.
Luna took an unsure step forwards. She could sense the pain, which rayed like waves around Celestia. „Tia?“, she asked.
With a determined nod of her head Celestia looked back at her scheduler. „Kibitz“, she ordered, „I need a parchment role and a quill. Now!“

Kibitz bowed and ran off to get the required instruments. As he walked through the door, two guards carefully entered the room. It was a grey stallion with a black mane and tail. His bat-like wings were pressed against his body. He wore a dark violet uniform, which was decorated with a blue saddle. The other guard too was a Bat Pony. They both were moving slowly and carefully, because they carried a bale, which swung back and forth between the two of them.

Luna's eyes widened alarmed. „Dead River, what has happened? Speak!“ She walked towards them. Celestia too looked rather worried, but she waited.
River, the Bat Pony with the black mane and tail, saluted and bowed. „Princess Luna“, he reported, „During our patrol on Nightmare Night we found her in the forest.“

He and the other guard uncoiled the bale. On the grey blanket laid a purplegrey unicorn filly with a fair yellow mane. Her eyes were rolled backwards in their caves and looked strangely pale and white. There was a simple wound on her throat.

Luna almost stumbled back the moment she saw the corpse. It was not the problem, that she just saw a dead pony. In her immortal life the Princess of the Night had seen many corpses, some horribly deformed, with heads and legs off, their organs thrown out and their bodies lacerated. No, it were several signs of the corpse – the pale skin and this look of horror in the blanc eyes –, which hit her. They were familiar to only one killing style. A trait, she had hoped, she would never find signs of again.

No! Please, this cannot be! Luna lowered her head and directed her horn at the corpse. She needed to be sure, that it really was what she thought.

The ponies stepped away as the Princess rose into the sky, only a few feet over the ground. Her horn glowed white as she create a mind strand, which softly floated through the air, until it connected itself with the dead pony. As the guardian of dreams Luna had the control over the Realm of Dreams, which also was the place, where souls and spirits went after their death. The Princess hoped to find traces of a soul in the filly’s body, who happened to be Ditzy Doo, the missed filly on Nightmare Night.

After five minutes Luna opened her eyes and landed on the floor. She dropped her head. Her long mane hide her tears. Celestia placed a wing on her shoulder. „Luna?“, she asked worried.
Luna peaked upwards to her sister. She sighted sadly and put her ears back. „She has no soul anymore“, whispered the Princess, „I really tried to find her in the Dream Realm, but there was nothing. I fear, someone had drown out her soul.“

Admit it, Luna. The coincidents are too heavy. She pushed herself away from Celestia. Luna looked away. She did not looked at anypony. „I am sorry“, the Moon Princess whispered. What would Derpy Hooves said, when she found out, what had happened with her beloved daughter? Luna knew, she could never look into the Pegasus' twisted eyes again.

Celestia finally received the paper and quill. She addressed River: „I know, I cannot give you an order, because you have sworn allegiance to Princess Luna. But could you please bring Dinky to Derpy Hooves and tell her, what has happened? I am sure, the Pegasus would like to bury her.“
River saluted once more and responded: „Of course, your Majesty.“ He and the other guard carefully picked up the dead foal and walked out of the room.

Celestia looked at her sister. She still stood there, her head hung down. „Are you alright, Lu?“, asked the white Alicorn. She stepped forwards and placed a wing on her shoulder. Luna looked up. „You have to be strong now“, she whispered, „It is not your fault, what is going on. Do you want to take your leave for today?“

Luna shook her head. She blinked away her tears. „No“, she said firm, „I won't run away now. It is alright, Tia.“ Celestia's dawncoloured eyes burned themselves into her sapphire ones. When the Princess of the Night responded the glance without fear and hesitation, Celestia sighted and levitated the quill and paper.

Her eyes were dark with worry as she wrote: Twilight Sparkle, you and your friends have to come to Canterlot at once. Celestia's magic enwrapped itself around the scroll, which transformed itself into green smoke and flew away.
Luna looked at Celestia. „Do you think, they can help?“, she asked.
Her older sister again stepped towards the glass window of the black mare and eyed it. „Yes, if it works as it had done in the last time.“

***

The six ponies did not be a long time coming. The double winged door sprang open and Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie sprinted into the room. They stopped in front of Celestia's throne, panting and sweating. Luna stood next to Celestia. She decided to let her older sister talk for now. After all she had called for the Mane Six.

Twilight immediately brusted out: „Princess, we came here as fast as we could. Is this about the disease in Ponyville? What is it actually? Applejack said, it is called Nightterror. But why does nopony know about it? And what can we do against it?“

Celestia simply lifted an hoof. „Easy, Twilight“, she said, „We will answer all your questions. But we have to face something else as well.“ Her eyes closed and opened, before her glance turned firm. Princess Celestia lifted her head and explained: „It seems an old foe of mine has returned. One, we thought, we defeated twice by now.“

The six ponies looked at one another.
„Who could that be?“, asked Fluttershy worried.
„I do not know“, thought Rainbow Dash, „Maybe Discord?“
The yellow Pegasus gave her an angry look and said: „That is just plain rude.“
Applejack responded: „So what? Doctor Horse said, there only had been Nightterror once. And Discord likes chaos and mischief.“

Celestia responded: „The Nightterror is not Discord's work.“ She stood up and walked down her throne. The mare nodded towards another glass window, which showed the Draconequus in all his glory, tormenting ponies with his chaos magic. „He likes causing chaos, that is right, but he would never aim for a killing. Unlike Nightmare Moon.“ Her dawncoloured eyes rested on the image of the wicked mare of darkness.

Rarity lifted a perfect eyebrow. „I beg you pardon, but what does she have to do with this?“, asked the white unicorn.
Luna stepped forwards. „Because she created the Nightterror.“ The Moon Princess closed her eyes. „Nightterror causes every dream of its victim to become a nightmare. It steals away the sleep, makes you wake up, covered in your own sweat and almost dying out of fright. The waking periods are no better. You suffer high temperatures and cough. Sympthoms of a flu. This makes you go back to sleep, which envolves into another nightmare.“ Luna opened her eyes. „This vicious circle goes on and on, until the victim dies of exhaustion.“

The Mane Six gasped in shock. Rainbow Dash pressed her hooves against her face. “Okay!”, she called with a look of terror on her face, “That sounds bad! Really bad.”
Twilight Sparkle asked: “Princess, you said Nightmare Moon created the Nightterror. I do not understand. I have seen you and Celestia in the flashback due to the Time Potion Zecora gave me. And there Celestia banished you to the moon as soon as you attempted to overthrow her.”

Celestia looked at her sister. Luna responded the glance. You explain. Her older sister sighted. “Twilight, you must know, that the Tale of the two Sisters is a lie”, she started, only to be interrupted by her student, who said: “But I studied Equestrain History. In my book Tales and Fables and their history stood just what I said. Why should anypony change a history?”

Celestia responded: “Because the full tale of Nightmare Moon is way darker then you can imagine.” Her horn glowed golden and she made a book appear in the middle of the Mane Six. It had a dark leather cover and a golden unicorn head stamped upon it. “This is the Diary of Fate”, explained the Solar Princess, “It was given to me and my sister from Starswirl the Bearded at our coronation. It contains the real story.”

Twilight used her magic to flip through the pages. She panted in shock and surprise. “But here the Tale of the two Sisters is like eight pages long! In my book it contains only four pages.” The unicorn lifted a brow and eyed its mentor. “How is that possible?”
Celestia responded: “I retold the story and cut off a rather tragic part to make sure, the darkest side of Nightmare Moon is kept to a minimum.”

“But why?”, asked Rarity, “How can you deny something your sister or this dark spirit has done? Wouldn’t it help the people, your Highness?” Celestia looked at Luna, whose ears twitched uncomfortable. “I did not want to ruin my sister’s name. After all she was gone for one thousand years. Who knows, what could have happened with her reputation?” She softly leaned her head against Luna’s neck. “I did not want to make it harder for you then it already would be once you returned.”
The Moon Princess replied: “You’ve done no harm.”

Rainbow Dash demanded to know impatiently: “Twilight, what does the real story contains? Is there a demon from the Dream World? Or a Dragon of Doom? Or maybe someone from outer space?”
“Rainbow!”, shouted Twilight, “That is not Daring Do! This is serious.”

She levitated the book closer to her to read the tale out aloud. Just like in her history book an artist had made wonderful and detailed drawings. For the new part of the story, there were three images: One showed Nighmare Moon above Canterlot. The second one had a dark sky and several violet lines, which connected the dark mare with the ponies. She was risen to her hindlegs and dark red lines were drawn around the violet strands. The artist had given Nightmare Moon white eyes as if she was preforming a spell. The ponies looked terrified and scared. The last image showed Princess Celestia, standing on a graveyard with several dead ponies, who seemed to get buried at this moment.

“The elder sister tried to reason with her” – Twilight’s voice caught everypony’s attention – “but the bitterness in the young ones heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon! She vowed, that she would shroud the land in eternal night and claimed herself the new queen of Equestria. The elder sister begged her to stop her madness, but Nightmare Moon escaped and flew to the port Canterlot. Using her dark powers, she placed a curse upon the members of the town. They all were plagued by the Nightterror, the horrible disease, that killed ponies in their sleeps. Canterlot lost many innocent lives during that epidemic.

When the older sister realized, how much her subjects suffered, she decided, she had to do something against it. Knowing her younger sister would not listen to her, she decided to force an end to this horror. Luckily the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took responsibility for both sun and moon and harmony was maintained for generation since.”

“Okay”, Rainbow Dash said, after Twilight finished her reading, “Twilight, you really did not need to read the end of the tale, because I guess, everypony knows, how the story ends.” Twilight gave the blue Pegasus an angry look. Luna chuckled.
Fluttershy whispered: “That was terrible. No wonder, Celestia decided to cut out this part for the audience. What would the ponies think of Luna, if they knew, she or well Nightmare Moon was responsible for the death of their ancestors?” She looked away and added in an high-pitched, shocked sound: “No offense, Princess!”
Luna sighted and folded her wings in another position. “None taken.”

Applejack found: “This explains, how Doctor Horse knew of the Nightterror. He told me, that his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-greataunt Nurse Ointment worked at a hospital in Canterlot during that epidemic and kept a diary. No wonder his family knew about that, although they probably did not knew the source.”

Twilight closed the Diary of Face and handed it to Celestia. “Princess”, she said, “There is one thing, I do not really understand: What happened with Canterlot after you banished Nightmare Moon? How did you defeated the disease?”
The Solar Princess opened her maw to explain, but Pinkie Pie was faster. “Isn’t it obvious, Twilight? She used the Elements of Harmony.”
“To defeat Luna.”
“No, read the lines: ...and harmony was maintained for generation since. It means, the Nightterror is gone.” Pinkie Pie pointed at the book. “The Elements were like a deos ex machina.”

Twilight grunted and hit her forehead with an hoof. “Pinkie, do you know, what a deos ex machina actually is? It is a rather unfriendly noun, meaning an idea is far-fetched! Besides I do not believe, that the Elements do work that way.”

Celestia interfered softly: “Oh, but Pinkie Pie is right.”
Twilight’s maw dropped and she looked at the Alicorn. “She is?”, she asked stunned.
The Solar Princess nodded. “When you had your Time Jump thanks to Zecora’s potion, you do remember the enormous flash of rainbow light like a Sonic Rainbow around the moon, when I banished my sister?” Twilight nodded, still speechless. “Well this flash flew all over Canterlot and cured the town. I think, the Elements have the urge to bring back balance, therefore they did not just removed the threat, but also the damage, Nightmare Moon caused.” Celestia opened her wings and explained: “That’s why I have summoned you and your friends, Twilight. I must ask you to wield the Elements of Harmony to cure Ponyville.”

***

In front of the hospital stood many citizens of Ponyville. They had heard that Princess Celestia had called for Twilight and her friends, and therefore they hoped, that help would soon arrive. They looked into the sky and spotted two chariots, which flew in the direction of the town. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had decided to be present, when the bearers of the elements cured the town. They also used the carriages to bring Twilight and her friends back to town in the fastest way possible.

Celestia’s chariot was elegant and small. It reminded one of a golden, long throne with a purple pillow and an elegant back. Golden suns were painted at the wheels. Four white pegasi in a golden armor pulled the carriage, in which sat the Solar Princess, Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. They had flown in a long and slow line.

Just as Celestia’s chariot represented her sun, Luna’s showed her love towards the night. The carriage was slender and short. Purple wood, which was covered in several spikes at the start and back of it. A turquoise eye with a small slit was drawn onto it. While Celestia’s chariot had the colours golden and purple, hers was violet and darkblue, almost black. The whole carriage looked rather ghostly and gothic like. As if Luna was also the guardian of the dead. Her two Bat Ponies, who pulled the chariot in cold fury and flew far faster and reckless then the pegasi, only completed this look.

Applejack pressed a hoof on her belly as she stumbled out of the spooky chariot. “That is the reason why I hate flying”, she whispered and looked around as if she searched for a bush, behind which she could get rid of a rather uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.
Rarity’s legs were shaking as she climbed out and levitated herself on a big, luxury looking, crimson red sofa. Moaning and whining, she complained: “The horror! That was dreadful! The horror!”
Only Rainbow Dash seemed to have taken the situation rather lightly. She flew upwards with a joyful call and after wobbling back on earth in a spiral called: “That. Was. Awesome!”

Pinkie Pie hopped around the golden chariot of Celestia and sung something nopony really understood. Twilight offered the Princess a hoof to help her out of her chariot. The white mare laughed as she climbed out. “Thank you, Twilight”, she said.
“No”, responded the purple unicorn, “We have to thank you for taking us in your chariot.”
“Yes”, Fluttershy mumbled, “Now I am really glad I took your carriage. Luna’s is so scary and her Bat Ponies fly so fast, that I was afraid.” She ducked away and added: “No offense, Luna.”
Luna rolled her eyes and with a low sigh said: “None taken.”

Princess Celestia rose her voice: “Citizens of Ponyville, I have received your letter and I know, that you are in trouble. Fear not, for I have found the cure for your town.”
Hopeful eyes rested on her and Mr Cake called: “Praise Princess Celestia’s wisdom!” The others cheered and called: “Long live Princess Celestia!”

Luna looked at her sister and lifted a brow. Let’s hope, you did not promised too much. Their subjects liked to belief, they were perfect, but they weren’t. Luna knew, how important it was for Celestia to keep the mask of the perfect ruler in front of her people. It was like a second skin.

Celestia nodded towards Twilight: “Twilight, you may begin.” She levitated a small, blue box, on which stuck hoof large diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The Solar Princess opened the chest and in it laid the Elements of Harmony. Six gem stones of immense power. Twilight took her crown and placed it on her head. She used her magic to hang every necklace of the five other elements around her friends. Each one represented one of the Elements and had control over it.

Rarity climbed down from her sofa and Pinkie Pie stopped hopping around. They joined Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Twilight. The purple unicorn looked at her friends and smiled. “Okay, girls”, she said, “Let’s show the Nightterror what our friendship can do.” Twilight closed her eyes. Luna and Celestia stepped backwards to allow them the space they needed to connect their elements. Each stone started to glow and a small rainbow floated between two stones. Slowly the five rainbows connected with one another and two rainbows aimed at the Element of Magic stuck in Twilight’s crown.

Twilight opened her eyes as the Elements unleashed their full power. Luna watched the gigantic rainbow wave, which shoot around the Bearers as if a stone had been thrown in water. They floated through the building and touched the sick children. The whole action only took a few seconds, but as it stopped everyone hold its breath. Luna send a pray to the Creator. Please, let it work! Please, please, please!

Then the coughing shook the silence. Every hopeful smile dropped and all eyes turned dull. The Mane Six gasped in shock. “Am I crazy”, asked Rainbow Dash, “or did it now got worse after we used the Elements?” Luna looked at Celestia. Her sister seemed to be out of her mind. Her shocked face became worried as she slowly walked up and down, mane and tail following her movement strictly. Her wings were partly opened. Luna chewed her lips nervously. How couldn’t it work? What has happened?

“I do not understand”, whispered Celestia, “The last time I was confronted with Nightterror and used the Elements, the disease was gone. How couldn’t it work now? That doesn’t make sense.” Her ears twitched and she eyed everypony as if she hoped they could give her the answer she could not find.

“Sense? What is the fun in making sense?” The voice was sneering, mocking and sounded weird. It chuckled amused.
Celestia’s head shot open and she looked around. Cold fury flashed in her eyes and her wings opened partly. “Discord!”, Celestia shouted, “Show yourself!”

“Oh, how boring!”, Discord said, still invisible for everypony, “I have forgotten how stiff you can be, when it comes to threats. You should laugh a bit more often. Would be healthy for someone so strict and cold.”
Celestia stamped on the ground. “Enough of this!”, she called furiously and her horn flared bright golden, “What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?”

“So plain rude.” With a flash of light Discord appeared on a tree branch. He laid there, his eagle claws on his lizard knee. A small smile curled his long muzzle. “I haven’t done anything to them. But the first thing you do, is blaming me for it.” Discord placed his lion paw on his forehead, turned his neck backwards and with a low sigh he complained: “Have you forgotten, that I am good now? I am reformed! And you still do not trust me.”

Luna took a step forwards. She shouted: “Stop kidding my sister, Discord! We have a serious problem here. The town is inflected by Nightterror and the only thing, you are doing, is to be a pain in the neck of everypony!”
The Draconeques slowly hang himself from the tree like an oversized bat and looked into Luna’s eyes. “Oh, I am doing something useful, Princess Luna”, he said and gave her a flip on the nose, “In fact maybe you should blame your own guards, because I know something, which should be rather interesting for you.”

Luna snorted. She never liked the Draconeques. Her temper was far too impatient for a creature like him. “My guards have the duty to check on the forest, so now threat can come upon my subjects during their sleep.”
Discord busted out laughing. “No threat!” He fell off the tree and made a line appear. “All what those tumbling idiots do is walking along a line and checking that no one goes over it.” With exaggerated moves, he walked alongside his painted line and acted like a guard. “Oh, they are doing so very much for Equestria’s safety.” His head yerked around and he shouted: “NOT!”

Luna’s horn flared and she fired a blue beam after the chimera to teach him a lesson. Discord snapped his finger and the spell puffed away. “Your hot temper hasn’t changed the slightest. Not even with a one thousand year vacation on the moon.” His voice now had a grumpy tone. Luna’s eyes flashed and she bared her teeth. One more word and I swear, I will turn you into glue!

Discord seemed to see the lust to kill in her eyes. “Easy, Luna.” A snap of his fingers and the line vanished. A flash of light and Discord appeared between the two Princesses. He placed an arm on Celestia’s and one arm on Luna’s shoulder, hugging the two Alicorns tightly. “I meant no offense, you two. I am a friend after all now. And being a good friend, I want to help.”

“You want to help?”, repeated Celestia suspiciously. Her long neck was pressed against Discord’s snake-neck. She huffed and blew away a strand of her mane.
Discord’s smile was too big for his face. “Oh, yes, I want to help!” Another flash and he appeared in front of the two Alicorns, who tumbled against one another.

“You see”, explained Discord, “Unlike your guards, Luna, I walked into the forest and I spotted something, that could be really interesting to you.”
“What do you know?”, asked Celestia eagerly.
The Draconeques folded his arms. “Oh, now you want to know”, he said slippery, “Well, say please.”
“Please”, begged Celestia.
Luna snorted angrily as Discord busted out laughing and rolled in the air, “Did I say, I will tell you, if you say please?”

While Discord kept laughing, Fluttershy flew up towards him. She softly touched his shoulder. “Discord”, she whispered, “Please tell them what you have seen. It is really important, if we want to cure the town. You do not want to get infected by Nightterror, do you?” Discord looked at Fluttershy. She repeated: “Please, be a good friend and do me the favour.”

The Draconeques appeared in front of Celestia and Luna again. He placed his eagle claw on his chest. “Fine, Celestia”, Discord said with a low sigh, “I will tell you, but I will only tell you in my way and because my dear friend Fluttershy had asked me to do it.” He started to circle around the Princesses and the Mane Six as his hypnotic voice filled their ears with his words:

“An old enemy from the past.

A sin, committed by someone, who seems without any flaws.

Search high and low and through any kind of weather

Then bring back what should belong together.”

As soon as the last syllable filled their ears, Discord vanished with a flash of light. The Mane Six looked at one another. “What in tarnation is that supposed to mean?”, asked Applejack confused and walked to Twilight, “Through any kind of weather, then bring back, what belongs together?”
The purple unicorn shook her head. “I do not know”, she responded, “Princess?”

“Princess!”
Luna turned around. She had been so caught up in Discord’s riddle, that she had not paid attention to Celestia. Now she saw her sister, flying in a hurry back towards Canterlot. “Tia!”, called Luna and stepped forwards, “Tia, wait! Celestia!” Why are you fleeing from us? And moreover, why have you started to cry?

Just one mistake

Celestia must have teleported herself right into her bedchambers, because the throne room was empty. As soon as she had been gone, Luna and Twilight Sparkle had done the first thing that came into their mind: They had teleported themselves (and in Twilight’s case all her friends) into the Canterlot Castle.

“Where is she?”, asked Twilight worried. The other Mane Six looked around nervously.

“Is she hiding?”, Pinkie Pie wanted to know, while she jumped around, peeking into every corner, behind each carpet and the throne, “Woooh, she is good.” A big, childish smile filled her face and her eyes glittered in excitement.

Luna responded: “We think, our sister has left to go into her sleeping quarters to get some privacy.” Her ears twitched as she looked at the empty throne, her face eclipsed with worry, “We worry about her. We never saw her crying like this or even running away from us.”

Applejack walked up to Luna and laid a hoof on her shoulder. “Maybe yah should take with her. The sooner she gets out the better. We still have to figure out this dammit riddle.”

Luna nodded. “I shall take your advice, dearest Applejack.” Her hooves thundered over the red carpet as the Princess sprinted out of the room. Luna turned her head back and called: “You wait here! I will be back soon.”

Rainbow Dash, who flew a few feet over the ground, shouted: “Doesn’t look like we have got something else to do!”

Celestia’s bedchamber laid deep within the East Wing of the Castle. Luna walked through the long, white marbled halls. Servants and guards walked passed her. The private chambers of Celestia could be reached if one walked through a large, deep red wooden door with two unicorn heads as the latches. There was a small staircase, which leaded towards the door, which was flanked by two ancient looking columns.

Ah, she is in there. Luna sighted in relief as she heard the soft, muffled, sobbing sounds. Her eyes were warm with sympathy and worry as she walked up the staircase to enter her sister’s room. Only to be stopped by two spears, which formed a cross, blocking her path. Oh, not again! Luna snorted furiously and rolled her eyes.

She had not seen the two guards, but now she recognized one of them immediately. The same metallic blue fur, the same white mane and the same mean glance. Luna responded it with some kind of annoyance. She was not sure, what she felt around Sharp Sword. Something was off about that guard. She felt uncomfortable, unsure, but also annoyed by his behavior.

“Sharp Sword”, Luna demanded, “Let me in! I must talk with my sister.”

Sharp Sword narrowed his eyes and jerked his head upwards to look bigger as he explained: “Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia, had given strict orders not to be disturbed by anyone. She also added that there is no exception to this rule.”

Luna panted in shock and anger. “But I am her sister!”, she called. The Alicorn lifted a hoof to push down one of the spears. Sharp Sword hold against the pressure. He leaned forwards and put his ears back, curling his lips.

“No exception!”, he repeated once more. The dry hiss made Luna feel his breath on her face.

Luna responded his glance. She shivered as she saw the hate in his eyes. Because Sharp Sword believed Celestia would not come out, he dared to show the Princess of the Night, what he truly felt for her: Unrestrained resentment. But why? What did I ever do to you? They had no past, no issues. So where did the hate come from?

Luna called softly: “Celestia, may I come in?”

She heard a tearful cry: “No, Luna! Leave me alone.”

The blue Alicorn lowered her head. She sighted and closed her eyes. And I thought I am the one with the problems. It was like falling back in time again. But this time she was Celestia, who stood in front of the locked door of her younger sister.

Sharp Sword smirked slippery. “You have heard it yourself, Princess”, he said and pushed his spear deeper into Luna’s coat to get her away from the door, “Princess Celestia wants to see absolutely nopony! Not even you. So why don’t you just get out of here?”

Luna’s horn flared to get rid of the spear near her neck, when the door opened. Celestia’s horn glowed and she made the spear flung backwards out of Sharp Sword’s grip and catapulted it away. “Enough of this, Sharp Sword”, Celestia declared. Her voice still sounded a bit shaky and there were tears in her eyes, but she still managed to put on the mask of the perfect ruler. “I said, I did not want to be disturbed. That did not mean, you are allowed to threaten my subjects leave alone my sister.”

Luna looked at the lieutenant. The unicorn stumbled as he came to his feet. He bowed in front of Celestia and pressed a hoof against his chest, a gesture of obedience. “Forgive me, your Highness.” His voice sounded deep and sweet with remorse. “I just wanted to make sure you are well rested and have time to calm down over whatever shook your confidence. It seems, a younger member of the royal family” – he glanced towards Luna – “does not want to allow you to get your rest. She seems to be rather impatient.”

Luna panted in anger. You, you ruthless, slippery rat! Luna once again repeated the movement Cadence did, when she was caught up in stress and anger. She moved a hoof in front of her chest and breathed out. The Alicorn closed her eyes. Calm down, Luna. He is not worth of your temper. He isn’t worth it.

The blue mare decided to ignore the lieutenant the best she could. Luna looked up at her sister and placed a wing over her shoulder. “I was worried about you”, she said and snuggled herself against the white Alicorn’s flank, “Not only me, but also Twilight and her friends. It is uncommon to see you run away like this, busting out in tears. Discord’s riddle seems to have taken you harder then anyone of us.”

Celestia let out a shaky breath and shivered. She looked at Luna, her dawn coloured eyes still clouded by tears. Her voice trembled as she responded: “That is because I fear, I know the answer.”
Luna’s ears perked up and she asked excited: “Really, what is it?”
“A secret, I should have told you long ago.”

***

Twilight and her friends were walking around in the throne room. “I guess, we all know, what the first line of the riddle means.” The purple unicorn stopped and pointed at the glass window behind her. It showed the dark mare with the silver armor. It had been the same window, Celestia had been looking at so often. “An old enemy from the past. This must be Nightmare Moon! After all, she had created the Nightterror before and now Ponyville is plagued by the same disease as Canterlot one thousand years ago.”

“We all see your point, darling”, responded Rarity. She had sat down on a small, golden chair with red pillows. Using her magic, she directed a crest to comb her mane and tail. “It was not really hard to figure that part out. It is the most obvious after all.”
Fluttershy mumbled: “But what does the next part mean? A sin committed by someone who seems without any flaws.”

Rainbow Dash flew slow circles around them as if it could help her to keep tracks on her thoughts. “It could be Princess Luna”, she said and pointed at another window, which showed the Royal Sisters in their rebellion against Discord, “I mean, she is a Princess, a ruler of Equestria, a defeater of awesome villains and guardian of dreams! She is as close to perfection as any being can be because she is a freaking Alicorn! And from all the ponies it was her, who transformed into the wicked Nightmare Moon! That makes total sense!”

Twilight looked up to meet Rainbow’s glance and responded: “I am not sure. The tale said, that the younger sister, Luna, became resentful. It shows that she is not perfect. She has feelings like everypony else. She could be the one without the flaws, but I do not think, that Discord meant her.”

Applejack trotted towards Twilight. “But who else could it be?”, she asked, “Besides what do the last two lines mean? Bring back, what belongs together? I have no clue at all!”
Pinkie Pie hopped around the farmer and responded: “Then better think fast! We have to get this riddle down. If we don’t, then Applebloom will have more nightmares and torments and will die, because she cannot handle all the bad dreams and coughs!” As usual, the pink earth pony spoke rather fast, when she was connecting a thought with a long line.
Applejack shot Pinkie an angry look. “I know, Pinkie. I do not need the worst case scenario!”
“No problem”, she responded with a big smile. Applejack looked like she loved to smack Pinkie in the face.

Twilight saw the tension and carefully used her magic to push the two of them apart. “Listen”, the unicorn addressed Applejack, “We know that you are sick with worry. We also know that Applebloom could die. We understand your anger and grief, Applejack. But Applebloom is still alive. Don’t meet trouble halfway! The worst has not happened yet. We still can save her. We only have to figure out the last part of the riddle.”

Rarity threw herself on a red, luxury couch that appeared out of nowhere and whined: “We have not even figured out the half of the riddle, darling. Oh, this is dreadful! If the disease spreads, it could affect Sweetie Belle.”
There was a crashing sound as Rainbow Dash lost control over her wings for five seconds and fell down on the ground like a stone. “And Scootaloo!”, she added and her eyes widened, “That is bad, really bad!”

Twilight bellowed in frustration: “Stop speaking of the devil and the devil shows up!” She jumped into the air, ears pulled back, panting heavily. All Mane Six were worried and frustrated. Blimey, the last thing, we need, is one of Discord’s riddle. Why couldn’t he tell us what is going on? Is this asked too much?

Fluttershy whispered and waved a hoof: “Please, everypony, calm down. We just have to overthink it again. Although I am as clueless as you. I do not know what the riddle means.” She whimpered sadly.

“I do.”
The Mane Six looked up and gasped. “Princess Celestia!”, they all panted in surprise. The Solar Princess stood in the doorway, followed by Princess Luna.
“You know?”, asked Twilight hopefully. Celestia sighted and folded her wings neatly on her back. She slowly walked over the red carpet towards her throne. Here she stopped and turned around.

Luna stood next to Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. They shared worried looks. Celestia’s face was eclipsed and she seemed to be crushed down by a great pressure. Her eyes closed and she dropped her head. “The flawless pony, who committed a sin, is me”, she whispered.

Gasping sounds filled the air. Luna flapped her wings and took a step back, stunned. Her mane and tail shivered at the fast movements of her head and hips. This cannot be! What sin could Celestia have done? Maybe my banishment. Luna responded: “Tia, when you banished me, you did what you had to do. That is not…”

Celestia silenced her by lifting a hoof, still with closed eyes. “That is not, what I am talking about”, she said merely, “It is about something else. Something, that happened decades ago.” The Mane Six started to whisper and put their heads together. Luna too lifted a brow. She folded her wings on her back once more and her eyes glittered in worry and curiosity. What had her sister done in the past? It must have been something unforgivable. So bad, she did not even dared to voice it. Until now.

Celestia opened her eyes. “Twilight, you must know, that the Elements used to be twelve and not six.”
The whisper stopped at once. Twilight’s maw dropped. “Twelve?”, she stammered, “How is that possible? I studied magic for years! I know everything about the Elements of Harmony and not a source mentioned them as twelve. Always six: Laughter, Generosity, Kindness, Honesty, Loyality and Magic.”

The Solar Princess opened her wings and explained: “That is, because I found and destroyed the Elements of Disharmony: Gloom, Vanity, Cruelty, Deception, Betrayal and Sorcery.”
Again, gasping and screaming sounds filled the air.
Twilight stammered: “You…you destroyed them?!”
Luna asked sharply: “Where did you found them?”

Celestia dropped her head. She folded her wings and sighted. Suddenly she looked old and tired. Not the beautiful, perfect goddess, but a broken, exhausted, immortal being, centuries old. Luna narrowed her eyes. To reveal this secret seemed to be more then Celestia could bear. How long had she been caring it around?

Celestia’s horn glowed golden and with a weak movement of her head, she made the Diary of Fate appear once more. What does it have to do with that? Luna blinked confused. She thought she knew every story in the Diary. Well, she actually never read the first few pages, but that was, because Celestia had told her, those were not important.

Now her older sister opened the book at the very few first pages. This story was only four pages long, It contained four pictures. The first one showed Celestia with the tree of Harmony. The second depicted Celestia with six gemstones circling around her. The third one was an image of a faceless Alicorn, surrounded by golden light. The last picture depicted Celestia and the shattered pieces of the Elements.

While the Moon Princess and the Mane Six looked at the images, Celestia explained: “Luna, after we had defeated Discord, I walked back to the Tree of Harmony in the middle of the night. I discovered six more Elements on its backside. Of course, I was happy first, because now the Elements of Harmony had even more power or so I thought.

I tried to wield those six strange Elements. But they did not connected to me. In fact, they defended themselves against me. You can imagine my shock. I was speechless. Something like this had never happened before.

Twilight, you and your friends must know, I can wield a spell, which allows me to see the bearer of an Element. That’s how I discovered you for example” – Twilight blushed after these words – “I used the spell and saw a vision of another Alicorn. You, Luna.”

Celestia shuddered and lowered her head once more. “I was not only shocked, I was terrified. I tried to deny, what the spell had shown me. I was sure something must have gone wrong. My sister could never wield such bad character traits. After all the tree had chosen you as the bearer of the Elements Laughter, Loyalty and Honesty. It just did not felt right for me.

I stared at those stones and I realized how much I hated them. I could not wield them and I did not allow you to wield them either, Luna. This made me so mad and frustrated. I was scared, terrified. In the wrong hooves, the Elements of Disharmony could become such a powerful and dangerous weapon. I decided to prevent this fate for our nation. We hardly had rescued Equestria from Discord and we could not face another war. I was sure of that.

Therefor I decided to destroy the Elements of Disharmony. I used all my magic to shatter these six gemstones in the hope they would never be used or heard from. Only the Element of Sorcery survived my strong efforts. I decided to get rid of it on another way. I ordered the best forger to create a necklace for this Element with an unicorn head and Pegasus wings. I sold the Element of Sorcery to a ridiculously high price in the hope no one could ever buy it from the merchant. I also wrote the story of the Alicorn Amulet – the fake name of the Element of Sorcery – and told that it could corrupt and was highly dangerous. I hoped nopony would ever achieve enough money to buy it and use it. I hoped it would be forgotten just like the other Elements or become a part of ancient history.”

The ponies stared at Celestia, maws open and eyes widened. Luna felt an immense amount of rage and shock, whirling inside her. How could you be silent about this? She would have loved to scream her anger right into her sister’s face, but now it was not the right time for that. Luna just opened her wings partly and put her ears back. She jerked with her head towards the Mane Six and the door. An unspeakable order to throw them out.

Twilight stammered: “But why would you do such a thing? The Elements of Harmony are so powerful and the Elements of Disharmony could have made them even more powerful.”
Celestia was sobbing partly as she responded: “Or they could destroy them. They could spread their dark magic over the world and throw Equestria into another war! I could not take that risk, Twilight! I was so worried. I was young; I had just saved a nation from eternal chaos. I knew, the land needed time to restore itself. If I let the Elements of Disharmony exist, this time could never arrive.” Celestia sighted and looked up. Tears streamed down her face. “I just wanted to do what was best for Equestria.”

The Alicorn flapped her wings feebly and lowered her head once more. Turning her face away, more tears ran down her cheek. “But it seems I have not learned my lesson”, whined Celestia, “I made one simple mistake and now Ponyville is threatened by Nightterror! If the disease spread, it could affect all of Equestria. Because of me!”

Luna’s rage cooled down a bit. Seeing regret on her sister’s face felt weird, strange, and almost wrong. It just did not suit her. And I thought, Nightmare Moon is a great sin. Sure, the dark force still was a great threat, but nothing compared to Celestia’s mistake. One simple change in the balance of harmony in the past had led to a disaster in the future.

Luna took a step forwards and wrapped a wing around Celestia’s shoulder. She was still crying. “Shhh”, the blue Alicorn whispered, “Everything will be alright.”
Twilight added with absolute confidence in her voice: “Yes, Princess Luna is right. Princess Celestia, you can count on us. We will find the Elements of Disharmony and make things right.”
“On it!”, called Rainbow Dash excited and shot towards the door, ready to begin.

“No, you won’t.”
“What?” Rainbow Dash, who had almost reached the door, stopped in mid-air. The Pegasus gasped in confusion. Then she whirled around and flew back to Celestia. Stopping a few inches in front of her snout, she asked: “Could you repeat that?”

“I said, you won’t.” Celestia took a step away from Luna. The weak moment was gone and the perfect ruler had taken its place. The Solar Princess folded her wings. She closed her eyes before she opened them again, revealing a firm glance. “I do not mean any offence against you and your friends, Twilight”, Celestia explained, “You have done countless things for Equestria and I value that very much. But I fear, you won’t be able to find the Elements of Disharmony. Being the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony gives you a close connection to these. Strong enough to recreate them after Nightmare Moon shattered them even. But I fear, your bound won’t allow you to connect or even sense a splitter of the Elements of Disharmony.”

“Alright, great, that’s bad.” Rainbow Dash landed on the floor.
Rarity asked: “But if no one of us can sense the Elements of Disharmony, how or better who is supposed to find them?”
Celestia sighted and responded: “Remember my vision? I saw another Alicorn as the Bearer.” A warm smile caressed her lips as she looked at the Bringer of the Night. “I do believe that this pony has been my beloved sister, Princess Luna.”

What? Luna, who had been listening with a rather cool facial feature, now gasped in shock. She took a step forwards. “Sister, how am I supposed to find the Elements of Disharmony?”, she asked, disbelief painted itself all over her face, “I was a Bearer of the Elements of Harmony once just like you.”

Celestia lifted a hoof and pointed at her chest as she responded: “But unlike me you never denied bad emotions. I sensed a dark core within you, Luna. If I had taken it as a foreshadowing, Nightmare Moon would never have happened. That is not my point. My point is if your dark core still exists, then you might be able to find the Elements unlike me or the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. You have gone through hell and this had left its mark on you. You have been fallen from the greatest top in heaven to Creator’s disgrace. You have tasted the light, but was swallowed by darkness. If anypony has a chance of finding those Elements of Disharmony, it is you, their rightful bearer.”

Luna made a weird sound, half sighing, half chewing, half snoring. “Yeah”, she grumbled, sarcasm dropped off her voice like poison, while she rolled her eyes. The Princess put her ears against her back. How lovely! My own sister calls me a disgrace for Creator. As if I needed another reminder of my sin.

It was not only this bitter taste of remembering Nightmare Moon again, that disgusted her. Luna felt rather uncomfortable. There was a nagging doubt in the backside of her head. Why did it had to be her? Was she even capable of finding those Elements? After what she had done? What if Celestia’s plan backfired and the Elements corrupted her and made her become Nightmare Moon once more? Had her big sister thought about that?

Luna grumbled: “Tia, we need to talk. In private.”
Celestia nodded. “Of course.” The Solar Princess looked at Twilight and her friends once more. “Do you mind leaving us alone for today?”, she asked, “My sister and I have to discuss this matter.”
Twilight Sparkle nodded. “Of course, Princess”, the unicorn said, “We will go back to Ponyville to watch over the younger fillies.” Her violet eyes rested on Applejack, whose face eclipsed once more with worry. “To look after Applebloom especially.”

Celestia sighted. “Very well, my little ponies”, she whispered and smiled, “I agree with this decision. Twilight, if you need anything to help the poor children, feel free to send a letter or even come to Canterlot to me.” She opened and folded her wings once more. With a shake of her head Celestia explained: “I may have made a mistake in the past, but I will do everything in my power to ease the pain of these foals.”

Twilight and her friends looked at one another, smiling.
Applejack bowed and pressed her hat against her chest. “Thank yah, Princess”, she responded, “This means a lot to mah.”
Rarity slowly turned around and said: “Come, everypony, let’s leave them alone. We have wasted enough of the Princesses’ time.” The Mane Six slowly walked out of the room.

***

“WHY?” Luna’s voice sounded sharp, threatening and angry. As soon as the six ponies had left the throne room, Luna had shred off her calm attitude. In a fast movement of her head, she levitated the Diary of Fate and threw it across the room. The heavy book hit Celestia’s shoulder, making her turn around.

Alarmed the guards ran into the room. Luna’s hot temper had broken through and she looked terrified. Sharp Sword took his weapon and ran forwards to charge at the Moon Princess. Other guards followed. Celestia merely opened her wings. She turned her swan-like neck around and stared at the guards. Stay back! The mare did not need to say the order.

In her fury Luna suspected Sharp Sword to disobey the order. After all he hold a grudge against her and now she threatened her sister or so it seemed. But the grey unicorn nodded and saluted. A flick of the ear and his soldiers retreated. Sharp Sword walked past Celestia and took his place at the entrance door again. He may hated Luna, but his loyalty towards the Solar Princess was undeniable.

Luna stood in front of Celestia. Her brow was furrowed and she showed her teeth. “Thou art an hypocritical, unreliable liar! Thou lied to us! Thou lied to us. WHY?!” Luna slammed her hoof on the ground in her fury. Outside dark thunderclouds rolled over the sky and lightning painted around the Princess of the Night. Due to her power over the moon, Luna also had the ability to control the tides. Therefore, she could create massive thunderstorms and sea waves.

A strong wind howled around the throne room. He made the mane of the ponies tremble. Outside the clouds kept swirling, blocking the sun, and pressing themselves against the window as if they wanted to break the glass. Luna’s wings bashed through the air as the Moon Princess rose from the ground. Her whole body was tense. White-eyes, swirling mane and tail. Luna’s Royal Canterlot Voice thundered through the air.

“THOU KNEW THERE WERE TWELVE ELEMENTS! THOU KNEW IT! AND THOU NEVER EVER TOLD US! WHY? WE HAVE TRUSTED THOU, TIA. AND THOU BETRAYED OUR TRUST! HADN’T WE AGREED THAT WE WOULD NEVER EVER KEEP SECRETS FROM ONE ANOTHER? THOU BROKE OUR PROMISE! THOU LIED TO US! THOU LIED TO US! WHY? WHY?”

Luna’s last cry was followed by an enormous crack of thunder and a large lightning, which painted around her silhouette. She had spread her legs, arms, and jerked her head backwards. Unlike Celestia, who often refused to use the Royal Canterlot Voice, Luna had learned to perfect her own voice and use it as an instrument in diplomatic measures.

The power of her voice had flung some guards against the wall and disarmed them. Even Celestia had stumbled backwards a bit. The clouds withdraw themselves as Luna landed on the floor. Her eyes, former white and glowing, now turned back into their sapphire state. She stood there; ears pulled back, and hang her head.

“Oh, Lu.” Celestia sighted. She trotted towards her younger sibling. Reluctantly, Luna allowed her older sister to hug her. Celestia’s swan wings wrapped themselves around her shoulder and she placed her chin on Luna’s blue mane. The Solar Princess sighted and closed her eyes.

“I am sorry”, Celestia whispered and opened her eyes a slit to peek down at Luna, who refused to look at her. “I know, I should have told you. But I was scared. When I saw you in my vision, I was gripped by such a strong fear. I feared what you could do. Maybe I was even jealous, that you could wield something I could not. I was ashamed of what I felt. What kind of sister was I to fear my own sister? But maybe I also feared for the good of Equestria. I wanted to have a glorious and happy future for my little ponies with you by my side. So we would rule in love and unity. I feared, the Elements of Disharmony would divide us and throw our kingdom into shadows. I did not wanted that to happen.”

Celestia squeezed Luna softly with her wings. Her glance directed itself towards another painted window, showing two Alicorns, sitting on thrones. “After I destroyed the Elements of Disharmony and got rid of the Alicorn Amulet”, Celestia told, “I tried to forget all about them. I wanted to erase them from my memories and from the ones of our nation. I wanted to pretend, they never existed. I thought, I could control the fate and the rules of harmony.”

Celestia laughed weakly. “I must have been a great fool, mustn’t I?”
Luna looked at Celestia and laughed. “Oh, yes. You tried to pretend you were even more god then you already are.” Her glance brightened up. The Moon Princess leaned against the Solar Princess in comfort.
Celestia took on her story: “I did not want to bother your mind with something that never existed. We both had our Elements to wield and I thought, if you never knew about the Elements of Disharmony, you would never miss anything.”

Celestia let go off Luna. She stepped towards another window. It showed the moment the Mane Six used the Elements on Nightmare Moon. The Solar Princess sighted. Her mane and tail trembled in the air. She dropped her ears. “When you got purified”, Celestia whispered sadly, “I was faced with the question, if I should tell you about the Elements of Disharmony. After our promise to keep no secrets from one another especially. I tried to find an excuse.” Celestia glanced at Luna and her eyes gleemed with deep love. “I was so happy to have you back after all these years of waiting. I did not want to disturb our luck with something that happened decades ago. I thought, if I go on as if they never existed, everything would be fine and you had no trouble on your soul.”

Luna responded: “It was foolish and stupid, what you did.” She flapped her wings, before folding them. “I know, you wanted to protect me, but I am no child anymore. As you have said, I had experience in a topic, you could hardly imagine. You should have told me about the Elements of Disharmony.”

The Moon Princess opened a wing and softly petted Celestia’s shoulder with the feathers. “But I can understand what you did”, Luna said congenially, “After all, we both sometimes feel ashamed of something. We both want to keep secrets, because they are personal, embarrassing, and dangerous. It is natural. And what is life without some secrets?”

Luna smiled and watched the corners of Celestia’s mouth go up as well. “Thank you, Lu”, mumbled the mare. They both found themselves in an embrace again. For a short moment, they enjoyed each other’s comfort, before Luna spoke again.

“Tia?”
“Yes, Luna?”
The Bringer of the Night looked up and asked: “Are you really sure I should search for the Elements of Disharmony? What, if something goes wrong? What, if I do not find all of them in time? What, if I return too late? What if I fail?” Luna dropped her head. All these what Ifs. They clouded her mind with worry and doubt.

Luna lifted her brows and added: “Besides I do not even know where to search for them. I do not know where I should go. Or even how to start. I am just not sure, if I am the right mare for this job.”
Celestia lifted Luna’s chin with her hoof. “I believe in you, Lu”, she responded, “You are a great mare and I am sure, you are just the right pony for this mission. Your heart will guide you and the dark core in it will help you to find the Elements when you least expect it.”

Luna opened her maw to protest and voice even more worry, but Celestia softly silenced her. “Easy, Lu. The past is history. Tomorrow contains rumors. But the true present is to live the present.” Her swanlike wing pushed the blue mare closer to her. “I know, you are scared and worried. And I understand that. But those things, you have voiced, are they truly what you fear the most?”

Luna dropped her head and sighted. She felt like an open book in front of Celestia. Sisters. They knew the other one often better then they knew themselves. The Alicorn rubbed her leg with an hoof. Luna eyed the darkblue fur. In her mind, it turned black for a couple of seconds.

Luna looked at Celestia. Her words came slowly and hesitated, before they left her maw: “I fear that I become Nightmare Moon once more. You said it yourself: The Elements of Disharmony corrupt. What, if I fall back into old habits? What, if I become bad? What if I return as a monster?” She hang her head.

Celestia slowly stood up. She was taller than Luna, but now the Princess of the Night really felt like a dwarf. Her sister responded: “I never said you should go alone. You can take friends with you. I know that you are very close to some members of the Nocturnal Guard. Take them with you. They will remind you, who you are. And they can help you.”
Luna stood up. “You are right, sister”, she responded, “I will leave at dawn.”
Celestia nodded. “I wish, I could come with you. I mean, who should tell you how cold is it?” She softly patted Luna’s chest with a wing.

The blue mare laughed. “Tia!”, she said half amused, half serious.
Celestia walked in front of her and stopped. “Let me tell you something, Luna”, the Solar Princess said, “A pony, who can only rely on light magic, cannot finish this mission.” Celestia turned her back on Luna. She opened a wing and peeked behind it, smirking at her sibling. “But maybe a pony, who can rely on dark magic as well, can.”

Luna huffed. Dream on, Celestia. She made a rather grumpy face. Celestia stepped forward once more. “But now you must go.” She softly touched Luna’s shoulders with her horn. “The fate of Ponyville lies in your hooves.”
The blue mare nodded. “I know, Tia”, Luna replied, “I promise, I won’t let you down.” She turned around and left.
Celestia watched her until she disappeared. “Travel safe, my sister”, she whispered, “Not only Ponyville counts on you, but Equestria as well.”

Off into the forest

The door closed behind her. Luna's hooves softly touched the carpet as she made her way through her room. Her head was hung and her brow was furrowed. Her wings were open and hang down. Tail and mane softly followed her movement like a thick waterfall, rushing down, slamming against her neck and hindlegs.
“Your Highness!” Cloudeye, who had been standing at the table, placing a small bowl with fruit cocktail for Tiberius on it, whirled around. Her blind eyes widened. Of course she could not see her master's facial expression, but her ears had become her eyes over the years. She could hear how another body moved and therefor tell, what position the pony was in.
The Pegasus rushed forwards. “I have heard what happened”, she explained, half panicking, half worried, “This is dreadful! Those fillies, they could die. What have you decided? Are you alright?” Luna looked up. My faithful kleinsmaid. Cloudeye sometimes was like a granny to Luna. Sure, their age difference was huge and the Princess was the older, but that did not stopped the former factory worker from worrying about her well-being.
Luna lifted a hoof to silence her servant. “Cloudeye”, she said calmly, “Relax. We have made our decision. Thy Princess of the Night must search for the cure of the Nightterror.” The Princess walked towards the window and looked out. The sun was setting. Red lines spilled the blue horizon like blood. Luna's horn flared as she rose the moon. Her eyes directed themselves towards Cloudeye.
“Cloudeye”, the Princess commanded, “Take a note please.” Her kleinsmaid rushed towards the table. Luna heard her pulling drawers open, the rustling of paper, the shattering of quills. Finally Cloudeye placed paper and quill on the table. The blind mare could take notes with an enchanted quill, that was able to transform the heard words into written ones while it was dragged over paper.
The Pegasus grabbed the quill in her maw and mumbled: “Ready, Princess.”
Luna rose her voice and dictated: “By royal degree, we, Princess Luna, Co-Ruler of Equestria, Princess of the Night, Guardian of Dreams, order General Dead River, Lieutenant Cobaltwave and Standard bearer Brightwhisker to an emergency meeting in order to discuss a certain mission, where the three shall accompany us.”
“...accompany us”, repeated Cloudeye as she scratched the last words on the letter. Luna slowly turned around. “Thou may bring the letter to the Squad Houses.” The Princess made her way back to the large sofa, where she rested, when she had nothing to do. “Then thou must return to us and await further orders.” Cloudeye bowed and walked off.
Sighting, Luna nestled herself on the large pillows. They were violet and blue. The fabric felt comfortable and invented one to fall asleep, but Luna was too worried in doing so. A quiet squeak could be heard and something grey and furry climbed on the pillow as well. Tiberius ran to the Princess and tapped against her chest.
“Ah, my faithful friend.” Luna sighted and lifted her head. The opossum sat on his bum and looked up at the Alicorn, his ears perked up. He squeaked again, sounding questioning. “It has been a long day.” Luna closed her eyes and turned her face away. Her lids opened partly and a sapphire glow peeked down on Tiberius.
“I am scared, Tibbles”, Luna whispered, “My sister may have voiced her confidence in me, but still it is so much pressure. I have to find the Elements of Disharmony. Six gem stones, which are gone without almost any trace. And I do not have a long time in doing so. The longer I am gone, the stronger the disease becomes.” Tears floated down her cheek and she sniffed. “I cannot bear the thought of losing Applebloom and the other children. I do not want to fail. I always wanted to protect my nation from disaster after my time as Nightmare Moon, but now the thought of me being responsible for the Nightterror is more then I can bear.”
Luna looked up. At the opposite side of her wall hang a carpet. It showed Princess Celestia, banishing Nightmare Moon. Luna had ordered this carpet to be placed into her bedroom. To make sure, she would always be reminded about what she had done. To make sure, she would never even think about becoming a monster again.
Luna stared at Nightmare Moon's widened eyes and her twisted body as the Elements hit her. She knew Tiberius was still listening. “Nightmare Moon could only enter the dreams of ponies, because my abilities allowed her to do so. I am the one, who had created the Nightterror. Maybe not as myself, but I am still responsible for its existance.” Her head dropped and Luna pressed her ears back. “Nightmare Moon has not really been defeated. I am certain of it. The Elements of Harmony may have purified me and ripped her off my body, but that does not mean her spiritis gone. She still roams free. And she seems to still have her abilities. I let a monster escape. I let it spread Nightterror. How can I be the one, who searches for the cure? Why cann't it be Twilight and her friends? Usually they save the day! How can I, the one who makes my ponies suffer, be the lucky one to find the cure?”
Tiberius hopped on the spot between her shoulders and wrapped his tiny arms around her neck. Luna turned around. Tiberius jumped on the table. He dropped his tail in the ink and started to sketch something. Luna stood up and looked at the paper. It showed three fillies, who smiled at her. An unicorn, an earth pony and a pegasus.
Luna smiled weary and touched her snout with her hoof. You are right, Tibbles. It does not matter, that this is partly my faulth. I have to find the cure. Not only for Applebloom, but for everyone. That was the hard thing about being a ruler. You were responsible for so many lives. A hard pressure to rest on your shoulder. “We are not rulers, Luna. We are to serve, not to be served.”
“Your Majesty, Princess Luna?”, a calm, deep voice said. The Alicorn turned her head. Three Bat-Ponies stood in the doorway. They all wore darkviolet armor, the helmets decorated with spikes. A cresent moon could be seen at their collar. There were two males and one female.
Princess Luna slowly stood up. “River, Cobaltwave, Brightwhisker, please come inside”, she adressed the trio.
“You have asked for our services?”, asked River. He had been the one, who had spoken to the Alicorn mare. His coat was as grey as stones and the long, black mane hang in strands around his forehead. His Cutiemark depicted a shield which was partly surrounded and trapped by thorne whines.
“Yes.” Luna shook off her weakness and sadness. A Princess must knew, when she could be herself and when she had to act as a ruler. Now was time to be the ruler. Luna closed her sapphirre eyes. “My sister and I have come to the conclusion, that we have to find the so-called Elements of Disharmony to defeat the Nightterror”, she explained, “Celestia had chosen me for this task. She believes, that I am the only one, who is able to find them.”
Her lids shot open and Luna lifted her head. “We have ordered thou three here to help us with this task. Thou will follow us during the journey”, she ordered them.
“Your wish is our command, Princess”, River said and bowed.
“Hang on!”, Cobaltwave said and took a step forwards. He was younger then Dead River and smaller. His mane was more bushy and finer. The coat had a darkblue tone over the grey. Cobaltwave's green eyes glittered and he looked at the Princess and his companions. “You are saying that there are more then just the Elements of Harmony. Did I miss something in the history lesson?”
River snapped: “Cobaltwave! It is impolite to interrupt the Princess.”
Luna laughed softly. “Calm down, River”, she spoke softly, “He has every right to ask this question and be confused. We ourself did not know about those Elements for a long time. Our sister had not told us about until now and you all know, that she likes to keep her cards close to her chest.”
The three Bat-Ponies looked at one another and nodded in agreement. Yes, they knew of this habit. They may not served under Celestia and had sworn allegiance to Princess Luna, but they had regular contact with the Day Patrouls and therefore had heard some rumors about Princess Celestia. Not to mention that Celestia sometimes visited Luna's Lunar Guard herself. During the time, when this squad had been formed, especially.
Brightwhisker whispered: “It will be an honour to help you, your Highness.” Unlike her two male superiors the Standardbearer had a rather fair coat. It was unnatural white and her crimson eyes spoke about the fact, that Brightwhisker was an Albino. “But I would have a question.” She took a step forwards. “If we are gone, who will organize the Night Patrouls?”
The Night Patrouls were held during the nighttime to ensure the safety of Equestria's citizens. Each town with an important member had his own squad, who came out as soon as the moon shone over the land to check a certain area for dangers. Luna and her general organized this task. Sometimes the Princess of the Night even lead a patroul on her own. Both Patrouls – Day and Night – were important to ensure the safety of the citizens of Equestria. They were well organized and happened almost automatically.
River and Cobaltwave looked at Brightwhisker. The white mare seemed to have picked up a rather important topic. Three pairs of eyes rested themselves on Luna, waiting for her answer. The Princess said: “Thou hast adressed the right topic, Brightwhisker. We art sure, Captain Shining Armor will be able to organize our patrouls as well.”
Brightwhisker sighted and folded her wings. “Then I am relieved”, she mumbled.
Luna looked into her guard's eyes as she spoke her next orders: “We want the three of you to be ready at dawn. Pack your things, everything you might need. One of you also pack our objects. We shall meet at the East Gate. Thou art dismissed.”
The Bat-Ponies saluted one last time and walked out of the room. Luna watched them, until she felt something pushing at her mane. The mare looked down. Tiberius walked in front of her and stopped. He saluted stiffly and nodded. Luna smiled sadly. You are cute, my friend. The Alicorn bent down and softly patted the opposum on its head. “I am sorry, Tibbles, but not this time.”
Tiberius made a sad face and snatched her snout. He looked in her eyes and squeaked alarmed. His eyes were wide and he put his ears back. Luna sighted and her warm breath made the opposum tumble backwards. “Tibbles, this journey is dangerous”, she responded, “I do not think, you can accompany me.” The small animal turned his back on her and hissed sharply, before he staggered around and fell on the floor as if he was dead.
Luna levitated Tiberius at his tail and sat him on the table. “I am aware of the danger, Tibbles”, she responded, “And you fear, that I might not come back.” She looked the opposum in the eye. “I will be back. I promise.” He let out a whining sound and dried his eyes with a napkin.
Luna marched through her room and stuffed several objects into her saddlebags. With a fast movement she threw them on her back. “Cloudeye!”, the Princess commanded.
The green pegasus looked up and turned her white eyes towards her. “Yes, your Highness?”
Luna placed her hooves into her silver horseshoes. “While we are gone”, she explained, “we want thou to take care of Tiberius.” She looked at the opposum, which had climbed into the golden cage, in which it sometimes slept and smiled. “Make sure he has everything he needs and feels as much comfort as if it was us, thou serve. Fullfill any of his orders.”
Cloudeye lifted a brow. “Tiberius can give orders?”, she asked in surprise.
Luna walked towards the gate. “With his tail”, she explained her kleinsmaid, “He can write. Maybe not as good as me, but he can.”
The green pegasus nodded. She bowed again and pressed an hoof against her chest, an act of obedience and loyality. “Good luck, your Majesty.”
Luna nodded and mumbled: “Thanks. I will need it.”

***

The Everfree Forest covered an ernormous part of Equestria. If one looked at the map, one could see that 25% of the country was only this forest. No pony with a safe mind went in there. Yet Luna heard that some brave fools could make good money out of it. 15 bits for a Mushroomer (2 bits more, if it was capable of spitting fly agaric venom), 20 for a Wood Barker (a rather huge amount of money, if one faced the fact, that many hunters did not survived catching them) and 25 bits for a Golden Crow (who at least only went after the eyes). Still Luna could imagine thousands of places, where she would prefer being at the certain moment.
The dieing sun was painted dark red on the muddy ground. Old, mighty tree giants, which were covering the sky with their green, thick leaves, draining out the young offsprings of the sun light. Bushes and thorny Plunderwhines, which wrapped themselves around the roots, trunks and stones. There was only one small path, which had been cleaned needy and with many kinks and windings made its way through the forest.
“I have a very bad feeling about this”, mumbled Cobaltwave. The lieutenant eyed the shadows with worried eyes and twisted his ears.
“I agree with you”, whispered Brightwhisker. She was breathing in a fast and nervous wheeze. The Albino had ducked herself and peeked behind the legs of her fellow soldiers into the entanglement of branches and leaves, “I have never been that deep inside the forest. Not even for the Night Patroul.”
River rolled his shoulders. “Well, it seems like you hardly have any other choice”, he hissed. With a respectfull nodd he adressed the Princess of the Night: “Lead the way, your Highness.”
Luna looked back at Ponyville, which laid in the valley, away from the forest, in a safe distance. Lights burned in the windows of the houses. Mostly in the hospital. Her ears twitched and the corners of her mouth went down. I will be back. I promise, Applebloom. Then in a fast movement she turned around and stepped on the path. “Come. We should find some shelter before it is midnight.”
The path was so small they had to walk in a line. Luna was at the top, then River, then Cobaltwave and at the very end Brightwhisker, who flinched at every breaking branch. The trees surrounded them and dulled down every sound. Brown light fell through the leaves. The wind howled above them, making the branches hit one another. Eyes stared through the bushes.
Luna whispered: “Watch, where you place your hooves.” The ground was so unsteady. Holes would pop up every now and then and if one stepped inside them, one could stumble and even break a leg. The Alicorn's sapphirre eyes were wide. They shimmered silver. Unlike her sister Luna's body was perfect for moving in a dark area. Blue, violet and silver flared in her vision and her ears could hear the sounds of the approaching night. The howling of a Timberwolf, an owl, flying by, deers, moving behind bushes.
Thornes clawed themselves into their coates and sometimes Luna had to use a fast blast of magic to burn the scrub down. She had given orders to her guards not to touch the trees. But the diamond-like berries a Wood Barker had placed on the bark of a tree let Cobaltwave forget the warning. Luna could catch the nasty sleazeball just in time, before it could climb up his neck.
“That is one of the reasons why you should not touch the trees!”, shouted Luna. She levitated the Wood Barker in her magic and hold it so close to Cobaltwave's face that he could see the sharp teeth over the wooden lips. “Its first bite makes you feel dizzy, the second one paralyzes you and you have your full consicousness, when its whole pack satisfy its hunger with drinking your blood.” Luna dropped the nasty fellow and stomped on him, breaking his spine. “Not a very comfortable way to die.”
Cobaltwave lowered his head and twitched his ears. “I am sorry, Princess”, he appologiced, “It is just I have never been that deep in the forest. I hardly saw anything like it.”
River snorted and grumbled: “That is a reason, why we should be completley obedient to any order Princess Luna gives us. It might just save our life in the process.” The general looked at his lieutenant, who dropped his head and hang his wings.
Brightwhisker softly stepped between the three. “We should not forget”, she said, “that Cobaltwave is rather young for a lieutenant and this is his first really important mission. I think, he is just nervous. And River, do not pretend you are not. I have seen you looking over your shoulder like three times already. There! You are doing it again. That is the fourth time.”
Luna rustled her wings and her guards looked at her. “I am not angry with Cobaltwave”, she explained, “He just has to be careful. You all have to be. Now come.” She peeked up between the branches in the hope to see the moon. But the felty, thick, darkgreen leaves smothered all silver light. Luna only had her inner clock. She slowly started moving after saying “The night won't stay young forever.” and the Bat-Ponies followed.
But from that moment on, Cobaltwave was more careful. When River almost entangled himself in Plunderwhines, it was Cobaltwave, who pulled the general back. Brightwhisker chased a few Golden Crows away, which circled above them. Scary faces appeared in the wood. Open maws, full of sharp teeth. Fog fumed on the ground and it was rather warm.
River once again looked over his shoulder, before he trotted to Luna and asked: “Your Highness, do you have any plan?”
The Alicorn opened and folded her wing, destroying a spider web, which tried to catch her. “Twilight Sparkle told me, that the enchantress Zecora is now the owner of the Alicorn Amulet”, she told him, “I want to ask her, if we can have it. After all it is the Element of Sorcery.”
“Where does Zecora live?”, asked Cobaltwave.
Brightwhisker nodded towards a creepy, weird looking hut. It was chiselled in a large oak tree. A blue and red mask with long fur hang over the door. On the long branches hang several small bottles. “There”, said Brightwhisker.
River put his ears back and growled in mistrust. “How can we trust that enchantress?”, he asked, “This looks like a gingerbread house trap to me.”
Luna shot her general an enerved look. River was completley loyal to her, that was true, but he hardly trusted anyone. Except for his squad members. The blue mare responded: “Twilight Sparkle is her friend and therefor I trust her.” Luna slowly stepped towards the house.
Cobaltwave rubbed his neck. “We are being watched”, he stated.
Brightwhisker turned around. Her small face shimmered with worry and symphatie. “Cobaltwave, are you sure?”, she asked, “Maybe you just sense Zecora or another animal.”
The blue stallion shook his head and twisted his neck as if it could help him. “I still feel something.”
Her amber eyes rolled ennerved and she sighted, looking up. “Cobaltwave, don't be ridiculous!” Brightwhisker stepped by his side and she softly pushed him towards the house. “Now, come. The others are waiting.”

***

Cobaltwave had been right. They were being watched. But not by someone in the forest. No, the watcher was far away and looked through clouds, through sky and through space. This long distance was covered by the pond, which laid at the side of the moon, which constantly laid in shadows. The Dark Side of the Moon. The gap between reality and imagination. A simple place, where dream creatures could hop into the real world and vica versa.
The pond shimmered silver and showed Princess Luna, Cobaltwave, Dead River and Brightwhisker in front of Zecora's hut. It could even transport the words into this strange place, but they were a faint whisper, one could only understand, if one bent down and looked close at the surface.
At the shore of the pond stood a black mare. Her mane and tail, black and purple shimmering mist, danced around her. Fog fumed around her legs. The only clear thing in her long, small face were her eyes. Two ovals, cyan and turquoise with a slit-like pupil. The glance was cold and mean. It told how much this mare loved to controll other ponies and understood their minds and soul. But most of all it showed her mercyless behaivour through all the suffer.
“Finally!”, hissed Nightmare Moon. Her eyes rested on the surface and her nostrils flared as she snorted. “I was getting impatient.” So impatient, that she had even played with the thought to kill one of the foals over night so Celestia had even more pressure and send Luna on her journey. But at least the Sunflower had throw Luna out of Canterlot Castle and begged her to search for the Elements of Disharmony. The first step was done. Everything was going like she had foreseen it.
Nightmare Moon had seen Discord during the meeting out of the corner of her eye, hiding in a tree, disguising himself as one of the branches. But she had pretended that they were alone and made an even greater dramatic entrance and behaivour to the Nocturnal Children then she usually did. All in front of Discord's eyes. Nightmare had been sure, he would tell Celestia and Luna. Maybe in his own way, but the Sunflower would have figured it out anyway. She was smart after all.
They were nothing more like puppets to her and Nightmare Moon held all the strings. They were the pawn in the chess and she was the player. They all moved like she wanted them to. But now it was time to add a few more figures to her game, figures of her own.
“You have called for me?” Out of the shadows a grey pegasus with a cobaltblue mane stepped. The mare in the silky, violet uniform immediately fell on her belly and pressed her ears against her head, when Nightmare Moon rested her glance on her. She shifted her wings. The feathers rustled at the movement.
“Yes, Amentia”, the mare explained and with a nod of her head gave the Shadowbolt the premission to rise. Nightmare stepped towards the pond. “Our sleuth dog is on its way”, she explained, “I guess, we should bring him some hounds to keep him moving.”
Amentia trotted by her side. “So?”, she asked.
In a calm movement of her head Nightmare Moon looked at her and explained: “You and your brothers will follow her. Get someone to keep track of her. Also try to find the Elements on your own.”
Amentia's eyes widened in surprise. She tipped against her own chest with her hoof. “Find the Elements?”, she asked, “How is that possible? I thought, only Luna can find them.”
Nightmare Moon snorted. “Nonsense!”, she declared and made a smacking sound with the tip of her wing, hitting Amentia's flank, “Anypony, who is truly evil in his heart, can find them. And since you were born from evil, this should be no exception to you.”
Amentia bowed. “Of course, mother”, she whispered, “We will do our best.”
Nightmare Moon stared coldly at the pegasus. “If you fail”, the dark mare growled, “I know the soul, that will travel down my throath. I guess, you know it as well.” She turned her back on Amentia and trotted around the shore. “There will be no mistakes! We have waited for this chance way too long! You are dismissed.”
After the Shadowbolt took off and disappeared, Nightmare Moon looked back into the pond. On the clear surface Luna's laughing and cheerfull face could be seen. The dark force smiled. “Yes, little Princess”, she whispered, “be a good sleuth dog and lead me to my prey.” Nightmare Moon lifted her hoof and eyed the shadowy fabric and the fog, which danced over it. This waiting would be repaied. Finally.

Prelude: Shattered Pieces

The night had spread its long wings over the land. A black sea, covered with thousands of white dots like frozen flowers. The moon swam in the waves like a silver coin. Every now and then a could passed by and hide the dead eye behind a mass of white fog. A cool wind moved the branches and long gras. The Everfree Forest was kept in darkness. Silence swallowed every sound. Only some small animals like rabbits, mice and owls were moving between the branches.

Suddenley a large figure shot around the forest. The moon painted its silhouette against the dark sky. A mare with majestic, long wings. She was slowly flying between the long branches, covered in their filthy, fetty leaves. Fog clouded the ground. The trees surrounded the mare like old guardians, their bark rugged by the age. The play of shadow and light transformed those furrows into grimaces of beasts and other ghostly figures.

The mare slowly landed on a valley. She rolled her wings together and folded them carefully. A low sight and her breath passed her lips, forming white clouds in the cold night air. Spring was carefully blossing in Equestria, but winter still had its iron claws grabbed around the Everfree Forest. Frost covered trees, branches and the gras. A sharp wind made the leaves tremble.

The mare slowly started to walk. Her hooves left dark prints on the gras. Her mane followed her movement, rippeling and sparkling. Every now and then a ray of light broke through the celling of leaves above her and painted silvery-white dots on her coat. Her eyes glittered with determination.

The mare had come into this forest for a very certain thing. It was growing deep in the woods, hidden from curious eyes. But it was powerful and safely protected. The mare had made sure no one had seen her, leaving her place and following her. There was a reason, why forbidden things were done in the darkest hours of nighttime with only the animals as companion. But animals never told what they saw. They could keep a secret.

Their eyes were following the mare. They were everywhere. Yellow dots in bushes, on branches and in caves. Sometimes a very curious rat or mice would peek its head out of its hiding place, but as soon as the mare passed, it hide itself again. They could sense a tension in these steps, which were long and elegant. In any other scenario the mare would reminded someone of a swan. But now she was like a snake, sliding through those leaves, climbing over fallen trunks. Quick and hasty. In a silent hurry.

Finally the labyrinth of trees ended. The mare stood at a cliff. As she lowered her head, the moon's light broke itself on her sharp, spiry horn. The cliff was the start of a gorge. Grey, white and black stones clawed themselves on the sides. The fog seemed to be even thicker here. It floated through the gorge, white and dusty, as if it was its breath. No matter how hard the mare squint her eyes, she could not see to the ground.

Great. Just great. The mare cursed under her breath. It looked like she had to dive in. Slowly the mare opened her wings. With a majestic leap she took into the sky. Her wings slapped long, powerful and concentrated. The mare tilted her body forwards and flew into the gorge. The fog closed above her as if it had inherited her.

Carefully the mare soared down. Her wings were stretched and she used the winds of the gorge to get down. Only when her feathers came to close to the rocks, she moved her wings to avoid any injury. Her eyes were narrowed as she used the light of the stars to find her way. She did not liked the darkness. Her eyes were not made for that. But sometimes one must do, what one must do. Even if you did not like it at all.

Finally the fog lifted to reveal the ground of the gorge. Grass grew there, thick, dark green, almost black and fetty. It was ended by black stone with several cracks. These cracks came from the roots of a tree, which grew only in this gorge. The tree looked different from any other plant the mare had ever seen.

It was a massive tree, whose branches twisted and formed a weird star. The bark shimmered and glowed as if it had absorbed the moon's light. On the truck two signs could be seen. A sun and a moon. In the middle of the tree was an ornament, which looked like a star. Instead of leaves diamondshaped, thine stones grew from its branches. The whole area around the tree buzzed with strong magic, which softly connected itself with the mare's magic, making her horn flare for a couple of seconds.

The Tree of Harmony.... The mare stood there, before she slowly bowed. The ground, on which she stood, was holy. After all this tree was keeping the Everfree Forest in its balance, allowed the plants to grow on themselves, the clouds to move on their own and the animals to care for themselves. Everything was working without any other help like it was usual in the rest of Equestria.

Finally the mare walked around the tree and stopped. On the other side of the tree, the bark was darker. Onyx instead of lapis lazuli. But maybe it only looked like this, because here the moonlight did not touched the tree truck. But the mare did not cared how the tree looked like. Her focus laid on six gemstones, which stuck deep in the diamond-like bark.

I did not suspected, there were more of them. The mare puffed her chest. She took a step forwards. Her horn started to glow. As the magic began to enwrapp itself around the stones, the roots of the tree came to life. Like snakes they lashed out and grabbed after the mare's leg. Sharp thrones grew out of the roots like crystals. She whinnied in shock and rose to her hindlegs. Her front legs kicked around and her wings flapped through the air as she tried to keep her balance.

The roots trembled as if they were animals, which actually had eyes. The leaves of the trees whispered furiously and jingled. Finally the roots slowly withdraw themselves until they disappeared in the dark stone and the shadows. The mare landed on her frontlegs and snorted.

Her chest was racing and her wings trembled. They let themselves couched rather abhorrent. The mare's tail tip twitched thoughtfully. How can I reach them without the tree attacking me again? The mare lowered her head and breathed out slowly. Her breath danced between her legs. Small scratches from the thornes covered her ancles. Her mane trembled just like the rest of her body. It took her some time to calm down and as she did so the mare got an idea.

Her magic was still circulating within her body. Like cool water it ran through her veins together with her blood. The mare sensed the magic of the tree buzzing through the air, filling the gorge like a river of honey. Thick, sweet honey, which reacted sensitive if something strange was thrown into it.

The mare took another step backwards for her safety. She closed her eyes and let out another breath. You can do this. Her horn again started to flare. Her magic now did not go for the elements, but instead started to touch the tree. It was no attack. In fact the aura softly caressed the bark and went over it like water. It was a careful scanning, a meeting.

She smiled as the roots stayed, where they were. The mare's horn started to flare once more. Very carefully and slowly she let her magic enwrapp around the gem stones. This time the Tree of Harmony allowed her to pick them up. The mare directed the stones closer to her. They swam in her magic like small peebles in a river.

The mare smiled pleased. Maybe her task could become a success after all. She furrowed her brow in concentration. Her horn glowed stronger and so did the stones. The mare watched them swirling around her in an attempt to connect with one another. Then suddenley there was a loud cracking sound like thunder together with a flash and a small explosion pushed the mare from her legs.

She screamed in shock as she was tossed through the air and hit the morass with her side. W-what?! How is this possible? The mare shook dirt from her forehead and came to her hooves. The stones still laid by the tree. They shimmered dull in the dim light. The mare slowly stepped closer to the six gems and stared down on them. She chewed her lips. I do not understand this. Why didn't they connected? Why didn't they reacted to me?

She lowered her head and sniffed at the stones as if their scent could tell her something. The mare again lifted her head. Her eyes shimmered worried. This is not good. If I cannot controll them, who else can? There was only one way to find out. The mare had a strong magical ability. Therefore she was capable of finding the pony, who could controll those stones.

The mare closed her eyes and breathed out again. Her horn started to glow. Nothing happened in the world now. The mare was using the spell on her own spirit. To open her mind and her sense. In the hope to get a hint of the pony, who could do, what she was not capable off. For a short moment everything in her mind was black, then a flash went through it and with it the silhouette of another pony. It had the same stature as her, but it was smaller.

As soon as the mare had seen it, her eyes shot open. Her jaw dropped. No, no, no! This can not be true. I must be wrong! She shook her head as if she could destroy the image that way. Panting the mare stared at the gem stones. There laid beauty in them and great danger. If they were not used probably and maybe even by the wrong pony..... She did not dared to finish her thought.

If I am not capable of using them, then no one should. Her brow furrowed and she nodded to herself. Yes, the choice, she was making now, was probably the best for the ponies. Because if they were not there, no harm could be done. The mare strengthen her magic and canaliced it to prepare herself for the act, she was about to do.

Her horn glowed stronger and stronger, until her magic was so bright as if she had pulled down the sun from the sky. With a dry battle cry the mare fired an enermous beam at the stones and as they started to glow like hot coal, she rose to her hindlegs and stamped on the ground with all her weight. Under the pressure the stones shattered with a clinging sound like broken glass. The mare repeated this process until there were only dustlike shreds of the gem stones. Pleased the mare turned around and walked away. Only one stone was only partly destroyed A bloodred gem, which was shaped like a star. On one of his spikes stuck a bunch of fair hair, trembleing in the wind.