Princess Luna and Princess Celstia sit on the throne on a beautiful summer day. Throngs of subjects line up to thank and worship Celstia. Farmer ponies those are thankful for the harvest bounty. Beach clad pony’s grateful for the sun. Even so painter ponies grateful for the beauty they can paint.
Meanwhile Luna has only one there to see her. And he is just a sleazy nightclub owner pony. “Look all I'm saying is that if night were longer then my patrons wouldn't have to be in such a rush to get home and sleep before work the next day... and if they stay longer then they will have a few more glasses of juice, and find some company for the night. It'll make ponies happier, and isn't that what we are here to do?” Luna rolls her eyes at him... even if she wanted to she couldn't make the night longer.
Luna begins to think to herself, “As the years of this rolled by. And the only ones who like the night were selfish, and no one loved the night for the sake of the night... something in me grew. What started with anger mixed with my alicorn magic and became-“
Spike looks up from the book he was reading from. Twilight brushes her hair and does her make up. “Twilight are you even listening?”
“Spike, please you know I love learning, but now is not the best time. I can read Luna's autobiography after the convention.”
“But twilight this is Luna description of how she turned into nightmare Moon. It was because she was an alicorn that gave into anger so strongly... and Twilight you’re an alicorn. This could happen to you!”
“Spike please, when do I ever get mad? Besides we have to get ready the Ponies are already starting to enter the castle. Are you ready for your workshop about fan art tomorrow?”
“Yep.” Spike gleefully holds up a very sexy Picture of Power Pony Radiance showing off her long legs and longer horn while wearing very little.
“Spike, I don't think that is what you should be drawing.”
“Oh come on Twilight, its just a little fan created art.”
“No, now pick something else to show. And do you have your notes ready?”
“Yes ma'am.”
The sound of hooves walking on stone gets louder. “It begins.” Twilight and Spike exit, to the main hall of the castle.
Throngs of ponies sit in front of Twilight's throne in the main hall. In the rank and columns of ponies with some dressed as Daring Do and other characters for the Daring Do. In the back The Cutie Mark Crusaders sit in the very back.
Rainbow Dash hovers above them. To great thunder applause Twilight appears and takes her Throne above everyone else. Behind her lies a giant gong for some reason.
Twilight grabs a megaphone powered by magic to talk to Everypony, “Thank you. IS EVERYPONY READY TO DO THE DO???” The crowd Laughs. “Thank you Everypony. I want to make this Daring Do-Con the most awesome art convention ever!!! We have fans of all kinds here this weekend, fans of Daring Do, comic fans, and even fans of the classics. I saw one cosplaying as H.G. Hooves early. So whatever your fandom let's party. So let's have so great Cos-plays. I will be running the Fan Fiction workshop tonight. And tomorrow we will have panels on reviewing videos; great panels about Fan art run by my assonant dragon, and of course tomorrow night the panel of the showcase of the best of the best Fan Fiction. And Day three we will be the one the only... A. K Yearling herself will be here. She will do a reading from the new book, and the judge her favorite Fan Fiction. And the grand capper will be Princess Luna come here and crown somepony the princess of books. I hope ponies have their quills ready. NOW LET'S get FAN FIC-ING!!!” Twilight puts down the megaphone and hits the gong and stars the Convention.
Later as the ponies have gathered round setting up tables and chairs. Pony after pony mills about talking, laughing, having fun. From her throne made of books sits Twilight overseeing all. Luna and Spike walk over to speak with her.
Luna says, “This is quite the convention you have going here.”
“Why thank you.”
“It makes me wonder if you are vialing for the princess of books title?” The princess asks coyly.
“Well it would be quite an honor.”
“Yes, and I would have to ask if you read the books I sent you this morning.”
“Well I was busy today...” Twilight’s eyes dart about.
“Oh about just one… I one I wrote… for you examine and test my theories about?”
“Spike what did you tell her.” Twilight tries to burn a hole in Spike with her glare.
“Look I gave that book to you before my sister, before Cadence because I wanted to look into it. It holds my deepest secrets. And if I'm right every alicorn could be in danger. Now I understand that you aren’t my direct student and I can’t order you. All I can do is ask. Please Twilight read my book and hopefully disprove my theory.”
Twilight holds her hoof, “And I'll do it first thing after this Convention, I promise.”
“Pinkie Promise.” Luna cracks a smile.
“Pinkie-” A scream is heard.
Sweetie Belle yells, “Why wouldn't any pony read my fan fiction?!?!”
Twilight stands tall, “I Have to go, Fandom problem.” Twilight flaps her alicorn wings and takes off to the far side of the hall. Over hoards of ponies she lands and sees the Cutie Mark Crusaders Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, with an over weight daring do Cosplayer.
The cosplayer pony proclaims, “I will not read this.”
“Why not!” Sweetie lets out with an angry question.
“Because... it's a... it's a...” the cosplayer stunners out.
Twilight lands and stands between the ponies. “Why won't you read her fanfiction?”
The cosplayer regains his voice, “Oh thank you princess. This fanfiction is written in the wrong format.”
Sweetie Belle looks puzzled, “So it's a little different.”
Twilight calmly and motherly asks, “Is it a poem in stead... cause that could be a ok I guess.”
The cosplayer shakes his head, “Worse.”
Sweetie Belle put her head on her hoof in despair, “Oh it's not.”
Twilight’s curiosity rises, “What?”
The cosplayer pony looks around and then answers as if it is such a shame to say out loud, “It's a script.”
“What?” Twilight gets the most shocked look on her face.
“Like it's a stage play or something.” The cosplayer pony tries to explain.
Sweetie Belle strongly asks, “What's wrong with that? Daring do the stage play. It's great.”
“I see.” Twilight just shakes her head.
“Thank you Princess.” The Cosplayer pony walks away.
Sweetie Belle just looks around the room confused and doesn’t understand the stares she is getting, “What is going on?”
Apple Bloom stands up for her friend, “So it's a written for the stage?”
Scootaloo jumps in wing first, “It's the best thing she has ever written. It has great songs. Great dialog.”
Twilight with a smile and calm motherly voice explains, “But it's not in the approved format. Prose and Poems are the only allowable formats. Because those are like books we are writing fan fiction about.”
“So I'm different, why can’t I be allowed?” Sweetie Belle pleas.
“And different is fine... in the approved format. So go read some fics, learn. And someday you can rewrite it in the right way-“ Twilight’s smile becomes ever so harden in place.
“Hold on there.” The voice of Rainbow Dash booms over the crowd
Rainbow Dash dresses in red white and blue swoops down from the sky and stands between Twilight and the crusaders now. She has on the uniform of Captain Equestia complete with shield with a large star in the center.
Through her greeted teeth, “Rainbow Dash not now.”
Rainbow deflects her comments off with her shield, “Yes now. Sweetie Belle when she's not crusading, she's a play write pony. Why can't she express herself with her form of art?”
“Why can't she just take her silly little script to where people write scripts? Hmm?” Twilight’s stone face now has a twitch in her eye now.
Sweetie Belle sighs and answers sadly, “Play writers don't let fan works in. I just wanted to so my love of Daring do.”
“And you should be able to express yourself. I mean fan made plays sound awesome. I can play Daring Do for you?” Rainbow hops in excitement.
Twilight’s smile fails, “This is a book con. Not theater con, this is not orthodox.”
“I thought it was a fan con. We are fans and we have a way to show it so we will.” Rainbow stands up tall and strike a Captain Equestia pose.
Twilight begins to turn red with anger. “Enough of this Rainbow Dash.”
“I'm not Rainbow Dash, I'm Captain Equestia, defender of freedom. And I think fan should be free to wright in any format they desire. Who's with me?” A small amount of ponies cheer.
Twilight breathes hard, “No.” Twilight stomps her foot
Rainbow Dash proclaims, “I'll read the forbid fanfiction.” A few ponies cheer.
Twilight in anger calls in vain over the growing Rainbow Dash crowd, “Stop this madness.”
Rainbow walks away with the CMC's and others follower her. While most Ponies are on Twilight's side and don’t move. Spike runs over. “Twilight is you okay?”
“Some pony challenged me... about books and fandoms.” Twilight’s anger melts to disbelief.
Spike shrugs, “So Rainbow Dash has other opinion. So what? She doesn’t speak for Everypony”
Twilight eyes become glass, “I must reflect on this in this.” Twilight lowers her head and walks away.
Twilight sifts her bandy by the fireplace in the castle. While the castle is young, the fireplace gives it the feeling age, home, and warmth. Twilight stares into the fire to try to understand why. She was so close, yet her friend stands in her way to the path of having a title she as always wanted. Luna is displeased with her as well. But she had only hours to read it, and Luna knew of the convention that was going to be today. How can she give me conflicting duties and expect me deal with it?
Fluttershy and Apple Jack walk in and join her by the firelight. Apple Jack pats her on the shoulder and asks, “What has got your saddle in a jumble there?”
Twilight laughs into the night. “That is a colorful expression you have their AJ. And I am for all kinds of expression... in approved of ways. “
Fluttershy curiously asks, “What would be an unapproved of way?”
Twilight in a breathless manic speed answers, “Like if she hoofed me a note. We're talking and that would not have been an appropriate response. Like having a script at a frantic writing workshop. It was most unorthodox.”
Apple Jack with nothing but calm soothing, “I see sugar cube. Now that Rainbow Dash can be all pig headed and all, but she is just one pony.”
“It wasn't just her Apple Bloom was with them. They are turning against me.” Twilight eyes dart as she curls up with her tail.
Apple Jack tries to comfort her, “Now now now... look her June bug-“
Twilight strokes her tail, as she talks more and more manic, “They brought the dirty script to a fanfiction reading. That's most unorthodox!!! I just don't even know what to say.”
Fluttershy pipes up, “Well I can see this is upsetting you so I'm against it.”
“Me too.” Apple Jack nods with complete approval.
Twilight goes to the window and opens it. Her hair blows in the wind. In the far distance she sees the everfree forest. “I just want the fandom to be good and strong. For good fan factions to rise to the top like the jewels they are. Not like the bad fics like coal that should be buried. I want more, for me and more my fellow fans.”
Apple Jack watches her friend in the window, “Sugar cube you're going to get a chill in that window.”
“I know what I can do.” Twilight takes off into the night to enact her plans.
“Well only good can come of this.” Fluttershy chides sarcastically. Fluttershy and Apple Jack exit via door.
The next day Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are hard at work building a stage in the convention hall. Rarity sows the Daring Do costume for Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash still dressed as Captain Equestia tries on the Daring Do hat. Sweetie Belle sits in a director’s chair going over the script as Pinkie brings in a box of pony donuts.
Sweetie Belle puts her script down to look toward Rainbow Dash, “Thank you guys so much for believing in me and this play.”
Pinkie Pie adds in, “As long as I get to plan the wrap party.”
Sweetie Belle smiles, “Of course, there is no pony better.”
Rainbow Dash puts the hat back, “I can't believe I'm going to play Daring Do.”
Rarity does a final stich of vest, “Oh these costumes are so fun.”
Apple Blooms leaps in the air, “This is going to be epic.”
Scootaloo just says, “I believe in you.” And she puts her hoof on Sweetie’s to show her solidarity.
The ponies for the morning begin filing into the hall. Many stop to look at the stage. But in the distance a thundering sound is heard... as armored suits with no pony in them march into the hall. The hollow armor speaks, “Please stand aside and make your way to you panel.” The armors begin herding the ponies to panel rooms and away from the stage.
Twilight now in red and gold armor, Apple Jack in sliver armor and Fluttershy in purple face paint and dot on her forehead enter.
Rainbow cries, “What are you doing?”
Twilight raises the armor’s faceplate to answer her, “I'm Iron Horse, Leader of the Adventure ponies and commander of the iron armors. I just took Cosplaying to the next level.”
Apple Jack waves, “I guess I'm War Apple.”
Fluttershy meekly adds, “And I'm Vision... there is no way to Ponify that one.”
Twilight begins to make her speech; she stands to front and stands tall. “I want this fandom to be better... no I want this fandom to be great. So I am making a governing body to over see this fandom.”
Rarity stares in disbelief, “A governing body.”
War Apple adds, “Yes, this fandom needs to answer to someone to keep order and elevate its ideals.”
Pinkie rubs her chin, “And who is this governing body?”
Fluttervision cheers out gleefully, “The three of us.”
Captain Equestia grabs her shield, “Who elected you?”
“I did, as a princess of books, I appointed us.”
Captain Equestia keeps buckle her uniform up to get it ready for something, “Your not the princess yet.”
Iron Horse laughs, “Who's going to stop me?”
Captain Equestia proclaims, “I will, this fandom is your plaything Iron Horse.”
Spike enters dressed and Humdrum. “Alright cosplayers fight.”
Twilight just looks and Spike and shakes her head, “Spike your in the wrong costume.”
Spike looks down at his perfect Humdrum costume, “What do you mean, I'm my favorite character?”
Twilight with annoyance in her voice states, “Yes, but he is from CC comics, and this a marvelous comics fight and storyline. You don't fit. Now go run along and run your fan art Panel.” Spike walks away.
Rainbow Dash worries, “They are trying to out dress us?”
Rarity laughs, “To hell with that.”
Rarity summons a chest full of clothes and changes everyone to a super hero pony. Rarity becomes the super spy Black Beauty clad head to hoof in black shinny leather that leaves nothing to the imagination. Pinkie Becomes Spider Pony with web shooters and webbed blue and red costume. Sweetie Belle becomes Wave and Partial with light powers. Scootaloo because Cunning Stunt, the pony that handicapped but doesn't let that stop her. And Apple Blood becomes Speed Seed, the fastest little filly in comic books.
Captain Equestia proclaims, “Team freedom assembled.”
Iron Horse counters with, “I don't want to fight you Captain.” Twilight closes the faceplate on her armor. It begins to light up the eyes, the hooves, and the center of her chest plate.
Rainbow asks, “What is that? That’s so cool.”
Twilight answers with the suits robot voice, “I stayed up all night building a perfect version of the invincible Iron Horse's Armor. And used ancient spells I found there to power this and give life to Iron Armors. I will win this because I have an army.”
Rainbow counters, “And we have a Fashion Designer. You may have a fancy armor... but I speak for the true fandom. We all want freedom. The freedom to express our emotions for the words of fiction we love so much.”
Sweetie Belle tries to speak up, “I'd just like to say this is not what I wanted when I wrote a script-“
Captain Equestia stops her, “That's not the point anymore. It's Twilight being a power mad tyrant. I've seen power man Tyrants in my day. Like King Sombra, and Nightmare Moon. I won't let this fandom be ruled like that.”
“I am no Nightmare Moon. How can you say that?” Twilight asked stunned.
Rainbow Dash yells “For fan freedom!!!” Rainbow Dash charges and punches Twilight in the faceplate. Twilight flies away on her hoof mounted repulsers.
Twilight fires the repulsers at Rainbow Dash. She deflects with her shield.
Rarity blasts some of the Iron legions with her unicorn magic. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo Chase a scared Fluttershy around the room. Apple Bloom acts like her big sister and bucks a suit of armor to pieces.
Pinkie swings on her web around the room. “Weeeeeeeee!!!” Apple Jack targets her with her repuliser rays. And knocks her out of the air with a shot to her webbing. Pinkie lands and stares down War Apple.
Apple Jack stands over her in her shinny new armor, “Now I'm for fun and all.”
Pinkie gets off her knees, “No your not, your all farm chores and stuff like that.”
Apple Jack stomps her hoof, “I am fun.” War Apple begins firing a machine gun at Pinkie. Pinkie jumps and lands on the ceiling. Then she shoots webbing at gun jamming it.
Sweetie Belle shines a light into a dark corner of the room and finds a hiding Fluttershy. “Tag you’re out.” Fluttershy sighs a sigh of relief.
Speed Seed gets her self in trouble as two armors hold her down and force her hooves behind her back. “Ouch that hurts.” Cunning Stunt comes to help but gets stopped by more armors. And the tide of the battle turns sour for the defenders of Fan Freedom.
Fan ponies begin watching the battle. “Wow they are reenacting the famous civil war story line from the comics.”
Black Beauty swings in with spy grappling hook. She punches one to shatter it to pieces. With an amazing round house kick destroys another of the Iron Armorers. More and more ponies get in the danger zone to watch.
Black Beauty free Speedy Seed. “Are you okay Apple Bloom?”
Speedy Seed rubs her hoof where the cuffs bound her. “Yes, We need to help Scootaloo.” Speedy Seed kicks one of the armors in the head, but does little. She runs circles around the armor and confuses it until it falls apart.
Fans cheer more, “This is awesome.”
Another adds, “Best convention ever.”
The over weight Daring Do Cosplayer, “Its been done.”
A blast of light destroys an armor, Wave and Particle joins the fray. Speedy Seed yells, “We have to save Scootaloo.” We that the three ponies battle on as Armor after armor tries to stop them and arrest them. The unicorns blast them their magic. Black Beauty does some amazing jumps and kicks to destroy the one holding down Cunning Stunt. She quickly stands up and knocks off the helmet of the last Armor winning the day.
Meanwhile Pinkie swings on her web singing. “Spider pony, spider pony does what ever a pony can do. Does she swing on a web? Of course she can, she a pony. The Amazing spider pony.” A repluser ray shoots her webbing. She falls and slides away. Spiderpony fired back and gums up the repulsers’ cannons.
But War Apple isn’t out yet. She fires up her shoulder machine gun. Pinkie jumps and lands on the ceiling. “Yikey, Skikeys, Apple you’re going a little far.”
War Apple just laughs, “Then just give up Pinkie. Twilight made this armor far too good to lose. Just join the heard and conform as a fan… sugar cube.”
Spiderpony replies, “But they offered to let me throw a party… A PARTY!!!” Pinkie fires more webbing and clogs the machine gun. But War Apple isn’t done yet; she winds up a buck and lets off the iron buck. Slamming Spiderpony across the hall and crashes and shatters the wall.
Out of the ruble Spiderpony exposed to live. “Apple Jack, you are going down!!! I want party!!!” SpiderPony runs full force at War Apple. The two lock hooves in a struggle of pony power. Servos and farm hard work powering onside, and a rock framer and wielder of the mighty party cannon. As Pinkie Pie strength begins to fail, while she has a web shooter she doesn’t have a Spider’s strength. In the struggle Spiderpony notices she can aim her web shooters at her back legs.
She fires and shoots her. And it hits, and locks down her back hooves. Spiderpony breaks the hold and encircles War Apple. She begins to fire wildly to full encase War Apple in webbing immobilizing her. A worn out Pinkie falls over exhausted.
Meanwhile the last battle rages across the hall, Twilight fires her chest beam as Rainbow Dash, But Captain Equestia's shield holds. “Give it up Twilight, We are winning this.
Twilight screams, “NNNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!” She begins firing wildly about the hall. Carets and servos firing at full power.
Rainbow throws her shield, bouncing it off a wall and hit Twilight between the plates and cutting the power of the suit. Twilight falls out of the air and trapped in her armor on the ground.
Luna enters stopping every with a darkness beam. “Twilight Sparkle what is the meaning of this?”
Twilight sobs force their way through the depowered armor, “I wanted to improve the fandom.”
Luna shock is appertain on her face as she looks around at the battle there as been, “Like this? This is not how a Princess of Books would act.”
Twilight howls, “What you are taking the title from me?”
Luna stands tall and flicks her nose in the air, “It was never yours to be taken away from. Sweetie Belle you may write you fan Scripts.”
“Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!”
“I a elder princess have spoken, Twilight.”
Twilight begins to huff and puff. “You can't do this to me. Books are everything. They are my life. And now my friends, even the royalty are turned against me. I can't take it.” Twilight breaks free of the darkness bond and her armor. And flies up and breaks through to the ceiling and flies away.
Spike reenters with Luna’s book. “That couldn't be the transformation?”
Luna looks in terror, “I have failed.”
Rainbow Dash lands next to the Princess, “What is going on?”
Luna stands tall and regal as she commands her subjects in the danger they are in, “Spike writes my sister, inform her I must raise the night so my powers are the strongest. I will face this nightmare myself.” Luna goes to give chase to the wayward princess.
The sun sets in record time and Luna lands by Twilight. Twilight wraiths in pain as she cries, “My friends abounded me. I am alone. I not a princess of books. I am nothing.” Twilight stomps her hoof. Her teeth turn to fangs. She summons new jewelry. She doubles in size. Her mane turns to fire red to purple and finally a deep blue in a wavy translucent way. She is now Nightmare Dusk.
Luna begins to speak in the old ways with her booming voice. “No, the curse of the Alicorn has struck you. Well I guess I have no choice. I have to but to strike you down.” Luna spreads her mighty wings and takes to the air.
Nightmare Dusk voice booms in a voice that is very unlike the princess of friendship that we all know and love, “Fool, I am the end. I am the void. All those who do not-“
Luna slams Nightmare Dusk hard with her darkness beam. Nightmare crashes hard to the roof. “You may think you are some great deal. But I have had that curse for a 1000 years. I know it's strength and it's weakness. I am the alicorn who has protected this world for centuries and-“
Nightmare Dusk gathers her strength and fires back knocking deep into the night sky. “I am power! I am the princess of books. All my learning will beat you.”
Luna recovers and goes for a dive-bomber position straight at Nightmare Dusk. Nightmare Dusk readies for attack and counter fires at Luna. But Luna lets out a dark mist attack and disappears. Luna hides behind a castle spire posed to attack. “Coward! Face me!”
Nightmare Dusk sees the flutter of the dark Alicorn's hair.
The Mare five with out costumes opens the door to the roof and pile out of the castle.
Nightmare Dusk rounds the corner and fires at fluttering hair. But it is just a hologram of magic that Luna made. Luna springs forth from the darkness and blasts the hell out Nightmare Dusk.
But as strong as Luna is, Nightmare Dusk is stronger and fires back. The beams cancel each other out at first. Luna tries with all her might to fire... but no go. Nightmare Dusk's beam over takes her and blasts her with full deadly force.
Luna lands burned, bloody, and broken in front of the Mare five. Rainbow is at the lead, “We have to help.”
Luna in pained voice barely able to speak, “Don't, you can't do anything. I'm only alive because my alicorn strength barely got me through it.
Apple Jack adds, “But we still have to do something.”
Rarity asks, “What can we do.”
Fluttershy reminds them, “With out the elements of Harmony we can't turn her back to the good.”
Pinkie remembers something, “We have rainbow power now, right?”
Rainbow Dash stomps, “Yeah we do! And she is still our friend. We still have each other. And we will never give in.”
Nightmare Dusk flies above them. “Well if it isn't the friends who abandoned me?”
Rainbow Dash shakes her head, “We just had a disagreement, and we still love you.”
Nightmare Dusk lowers her voice a little, “I just wanted to be the princess of books and you took that away from ME! You took everything away!!!”
Rainbow Dash just shakes her head, “No, we still love you.” Rainbow's eyes begin to light up. “Because you are our friend. You’re the magic that makes our friendship so special. And we are going to remind you of that.” The other mare's eyes light up and they begin to transform in to the rainbow forms.
Nightmare Dusk laughs, “Fools you can't active the beam without all six elements. You have no magic.”
“But we do have magic.” Out of the rainbow an image made by their hearts is formed of Twilight Sparkle. Out of the them fires the rainbow of friendship that blasts away the evil of the alicorn curse. And heals princess Luna too in the process of spreading friendship.
Princess twilight lays on the roof of the castle in a daze. “What happen?”
Rainbow Dash jokes, “Your fan rage turned you into nightmare, Nightmare Dusk that is.” Dash just giggles at her joke she made.
Twilight on the other hoof takes it seriously and bows her head in shame, “Wow, that's not good.”
Luna tries to cheer her up, “One good thing is this was important research data. I guess my theories on how the nightmare transformation works was right. Thank you for helping prove them… now never does it again!!!”
Rarity walks over and puts her hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “I'm just glad it's over now.”
Pinkie leaps up, “Can we have the wrap party now?”
Apple Jack smiles, “As long as there is some apple pie for me.”
Twilight finally smiles, “Oh AJ you and apples.”
Luna quietly asks, “Did you learn your lesson?”
Twilight, “Yes, Dear Princess Luna, that as fun as being a part of fandom is, we all need to lighten up and just let it be fun with your friends.”
Rainbow Dash asks, “So can Sweetie Belle can have her scripts?”
“Hell no, that not fanfiction. Fanfiction is only written in prose.”
“Well I tried.” Rainbow just shrugs it off. Everypony laughs and goes to rejoin the convention.
