Once every five hundred years in Equestria an event occurs. It is no festival or holiday, it is the blood moon. The first recorded incident of the blood moon was three months after Luna was banished. During the first blood moon there was widespread panic throughout all of Equus.
Monsters from all over the world ventured from their homes and wrecked havoc upon all nations. Many were killed during this time. Most were military personnel that fought to protect their homeland from the monsters that threatened them. The terror every nation felt died when the golden sun broke the horizon ending all of the monsters rampage.
Many theorized it was Nightmare Moons revenge upon the land, but in actuality it was a curse she put upon the moon when Nightmare merged with it, and soon the curse was going to claim the land in terror again.
----Time three months after Luna's return----
Celestia felt a slight magic in the air, one of malicious intent. She couldn't put her hoof on it, but it was very familiar. It didn't seem strong at all almost as if it wasn't there. She pushed the thought to the back of her head and continued going over a few important documents. After a few minutes passed she heard a knock on her door.
"You may enter." Celestia said.
"Sister, I bring troubling news. I saw... Something." Luna said worriedly.
"What was it?" Celestia asked her paperwork now forgotten.
"I saw Nightmare, but she was, different." Luna said.
"Nightmare Moon." Celestia whispered in horror.
"What, do you know what it means?" Luna asked.
"The blood moon." Celestia said. She was trembling in fear her pupils shrunk to pin pricks.
"What is this blood moon?" Luna asked worriedly.
"After your banishment to the moon there was an incident. One night the moon rose and it was blood red. The entire night all the nations were attacked by monsters. Entire towns were destroyed and many were brutally killed." Celestia said sadly.
Luna stood there silent, she was staring at her sister with a distant gaze. Luna turned around and headed towards the door to leave the room.
"Luna, where are you going?" Celestia asked sounding concerned.
"To ready the Lunar guard." Luna turned to look at her sister.
What Celestia saw scared her. Luna had completely changed her blue eyes were now blood red and she had fangs. Her wings were also changing to that of a bat. Her flowing mane was changing as well instead of it being night blue it had a slight reddish purple tint.
"Tonight my scythe will taste the blood of those who threaten our subjects." Luna said with a growl.
"Luna. What are you going to do?" Celestia asked worriedly.
"I am going to defend our subjects, but what are you going to do, sister?" Luna asked.
"I am going to prepare the Solar guard." Celestia said.
"Then hurry. The day is ending and soon the night will begin." With that Luna ignited her horn and was gone.
Celestia quickly wrote a letter to her pupil Twilight Sparkle telling her to get her and her friends somewhere safe before days end which would be in two hours. She then started a letter warning Cadence and Shining Armour.
"Tonight the world will be bathed in blood and destruction once more." Celestia said to herself.
-----Lunar Guard Barracks-----
With a flash Luna was in the Lunar guard barracks. Luna quickly trotted to the captain's office and knocked on the door.
"Enter." Captain Swift Wind said.
"Captain, I have urgent news. Gather all the Lunar guard and bring them to the castle courtyard. Immediately." Luna said.
"Yes princess." Swift Wind replied. He quickly got to his hooves and ran out of his office and started going door to door in the barracks grabbing all the troops he could.
Luna lit her horn again and appeared in the courtyard awaiting her army's arrival. A few minutes passed and a majority of the guard had arrived. So she got their attention.
"Attention everypony, I have grave news. Tonight our homeland will be attacked." Luna said solemnly. "Many of you have not experienced a true a battle, but tonight you will! Hordes of monsters will attack many villages and cities across all of Equus. Some of you will not make it to morning's light, but know this, your sacrifice will be remembered." Luna said in the royal canterlot voice.
The guard was silent for a few moments. Then the captain began stomping his hooves, it soon spread until the entire night guard was stomping their hooves and cheering. Luna smile was sad. She knew most were not going to make it home to their families, but it is their duty. Luna walked up to Swift Wind and gave him orders to send half the guard to the Everfree forest and nearby towns. Luna was going to enter the forest herself and try and thin the numbers as much as she could.
The Lunar guard quickly got geared up and was soon ready for battle. The troops that were being sent to the forest were highly skilled and had a greater chance of survival while the less skilled were tasked to guard Canterlot.
Luna was getting read to board her chariot, but before she did she gave one final speech to the group that was heading to the forest.
"Tonight we shall fight to the end and return with glory!" Luna said in the royal Canterlot voice.
The group of guards cheered and stomped their hooves, then got on their chariots and started for the Everfree forest none of them knowing if they were going to see the night to its end.
Author's Note
This story is in honor of last nights lunar eclipse.
