To Rekindle the Sunby DonrajChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 1“Princess Celestia wishes to be alone,” the guard standing sentry in front of the royal bedroom said firmly. Academian Twilight Sparkle’s eyes flashed behind her glasses. She stomped her right hoof primly on the marble floor as she looked up at the larger unicorn. The guard stirred uneasily, as did his companion on the other side of the door. “What part of ‘critical importance’ do you not understand?” Twilight demanded, looking entirely too imposing for a slightly built mare in glasses and a lab coat. The two guards remained at rigid attention. Twilight’s lips pressed into a thin line. She looked out the tower window to the panoramic view outside. The guards intuited from her expression that the unicorn prodigy they had known since she was a filly was either thinking of calling in her brother or throwing them off the mountainside Canterlot Castle was built into and seeing if they spontaneously ascended into alicorns. They decided to stand aside and open the doors. Twilight gave them a sunny smile as she pranced past them. “Thank you, sirs!” † Celestia sat in her bed facing the general direction of her balcony. The curtains were drawn and both the room and her eyes were far too dim to fit the Princess of the Sun. Hooves clopped on the marble floors. Celestia knew that they could only belong to one little filly. Celestia did not wish to rise to greet her most faithful student, but she knew her protegee deserved better after blessing her with years of youthful cheer and enthusiasm. “Twilight,” she said with a practiced tone of gentle authority. “Have you been bullying my guards again?” Twilight didn’t say anything. Celestia lifted her head a bit to see the unicorn filly more clearly. She wondered if she had teased the impressionable little filly a little too hard. She brushed a hoof through her limp mane as she did. Twilight was standing midway between the door and Celestia’s bed. She looked stricken. She also looked much too big to be called a filly. That’s right, Celestia remembered distantly. Her faithful student had grown up. “Twilight?” Celestia asked. The royal tone had slipped away. Genuine concern replaced it, the emotion muted but real. “Are you alright?” Twilight started. “Yes, yes Princess, everything is fine,” she said. The words came out in a rush. A more alert Celestia or any other pony who was paying attention would have inferred that everything was in fact not alright. Celestia took the statement at face value and settled back down into her pillows. “Good, that’s good,” Celestia said, her voice half a whisper. Twilight waited for her to ask another question. She did not. “So!” Twilight said in a tone of forced cheer. “Did you read my research proposal?” Celestia sluggishly searched her memories. Twilight had sent her some sort of report or paper or book draft again. “No,” Celestia admitted. “Not yet.” Twilight’s shoulders slumped. Shame forced Celestia to add, “Not all of it. I’m sure it’s as good as all of your work.” Twilight blinked rapidly as she changed the subject. “It’s just, I need you to approve some paperwork so I can finish preparing the Summer Sun Celebration for this year.” Twilight pulled some sheets of paper out of her lab coat and offered them to her teacher. “The part about detaching Captain Shining Armor and an escort from here to the Ponyville area,” she said helpfully. “Ah yes. Ponyville,” Celestia said listlessly. “The Everfree. Lu—” Celestia forced herself to focus. Her horn glowed with a gentle light and a complex symbol appeared on the bottom of the papers where her signature was required. She looked at her student blearily. “Is there anything else, Twilight?” Twilight trembled. She composed herself and said, “No, Princess. I look forward to reporting my findings to you.” With that Twilight ran out of the royal bedchambers with tears in her eyes. Celestia did not watch her go. † “I’m just saying,” shouted Shining Armor over the rush of the wind. “You need to follow regulations when seeking an audience with the Princess.” Twilight made a rude noise as the chariot touched down. The two armored pegasi who had brought them saluted as their passengers disembarked. Twilight ignored them. Shining Armor returned the gesture smartly as he followed after his sister. “I’m being serious, Twily. Those procedures exist for a reason. Once my guards get in the habit of ignoring them for you that compromises palace security.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Oh please. Who else could take advantage of that even if they wanted to?” “What if some sort of shapeshifting bug creatures with mind control powers impersonated you to ambush Princess Celestia, replace her and seize control of Equestria?” Shining Armor countered. “That’s dumb!” Twilight shot back. “There’s no such thing as changelings!” Shining looked uncomfortable. “Actually, I was talking to Cadance and—” Twilight cut him off with a snort. “Is this like when she used to tell me about the terrible moaning ghost that haunted your room every time she stayed the night?” Twilight asked sarcastically. Shining Armor’s cheeks turned red. He stopped talking. “Besides, “Twilight continued. “You know that if I went through proper channels I’d never get to see her.” Twilight’s ears drooped. “The Princess never wants to see anypony lately,” she said quietly. “Least of all me.” “Twily, you know that’s not—” Shining Armor began awkwardly. Shining Armor was cut off when he realized he was about to walk into an aggressively pink earth pony. “Oh, sorry ma’am,” Shining Armor began. He was cut off yet again when the pink pony inhaled a huge breath, leapt straight up in the air and then vanished so quickly both unicorns could have sworn it was teleportation. They stared after the stranger. “Well, that was weird,” Twilight said. “Eyup,” said a passing stallion. Twilight and Shining Armor looked at the speaker. It was a large red earth pony. “Oh, hello!” Twilight said brightly. “Do you know where the Golden Oaks Library is?” “Eyup,” the earth pony replied. Twilight waited for him to elaborate. He did not. She smiled awkwardly. “Would you be willing to tell us where?” she asked. “Eyup.” More silence. Twilight’s next question came out tinged with annoyance. “Is that the only word you know how to say?” “Nope.” Frustration began to charge Twilight’s sarcasm generator to full power. Before she could say more a new voice cut in. “Big Macintosh, stop teasing that there filly and answer her question.” Twilight turned to see an earth pony mare with a long blonde mane, a battered Stetson and a big smile walk up from behind the stallion. “Sorry bout that,” she said. “Big Mac’s usually a right serious pony, but give him a straight line like that and he’ll run with it every time.” “I see,” Twilight said. She did not actually see the joke, but Twilight had learned at an early age to pretend otherwise in these situations. The earth pony offered her hoof in greeting. “Name’s Applejack. Reckon you’re new to these here parts.” Twilight stared at the proffered hoof as if unsure what she was supposed to do with it. Shining Armor extended his own forehoof and bumped it firmly. Applejack raised an eyebrow and gave Shining Armor an appreciative look. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said, clearly impressed. “Likewise,” Shining Armor said with a disarming smile. “I’m Shining Armor and this is my sister Twilight Sparkle. Twily is in town on royal business and—oww!” Twilight jumped in as her brother rubbed his shoulder where she had smacked him. “Yes, and we’re very busy, so if you could just point us toward the library we’ll be on our way.” Applejack blinked. “Well sure thing, sugar cube. Just head past the market there and turn right. Library’s built into a tree. Can’t miss it.” Twilight beamed at the influx of new information. “Thank you so much!” So saying Twilight trotted off. Shining Armor followed at an awkward pace. “Enjoy yer stay, and hope to see y’all again!” Applejack called after them. “We at Sweet Apple Acres sure do love making new friends!” Neither unicorn answered. Applejack and Big Macintosh watched them go. “Reckon we’ll be gettin’ an invite from Pinkie Pie soon,” Applejack remarked. “Eyup,” Big Macintosh agreed. † “She seemed nice,” Shining Armor commented after catching up to his sister. “Uh-huh,” Twilight replied. She was clearly not paying attention. “So…” Shining Armor began. He knew that trying to distract his sister when she was like this was probably futile, but he had to make the attempt. “Do you think—” Something blue and moving very fast smashed into Shining Armor from above. There was a huge whumpf of impact and the next thing he knew Shining Armor was on his back in the mud dazed and staring into a pair of magenta eyes from a couple inches away. Being knocked half-senseless wasn’t enough to stop Shining Armor from coming up fighting. Training took over. He wrapped a foreleg around his attacker and rolled hard to the left. There was an aborted “Hey!” and a moment later their positions were reversed. The magenta eyes narrowed in anger as the stranger bucked awkwardly beneath him. He adjusted his weight to keep her pinned under him and took a hard right hoof to the chin for his trouble. The blow knocked him far enough off balance that the other pony managed to slip out from under him and roll out of reach before he could react. Training kicked in again. Shining Armor focused magic through his horn and threw up a round purple shield just in time to intercept a rear hooves buck that would have sent him flying into another zip code. Instead the attack bounced off his forcefield. A few concentric rings of light rippled through it as the spell nullified the impact. Shining Armor took the opportunity to regain his hooves and take his first good look at his opponent. An athletic looking pegasus mare with a rainbow mane was bouncing on her hind legs in front of him and punching the air with her forehooves. “Oh, so you want a fight, huh?” she shouted. “Well bring it!” Shining Armor sighed and lowered his forcefield. “So you were the one who crashed into me. Who—” The instant the purple shield was gone the mare darted in and sucker punched Shining Armor in the face with a quick left jab. It wasn’t enough to put him down but it was definitely effective in cutting him off. And it hurt. He tried again. “Listen, I—oww!” The mare continued to bob and weave. Shining Armor sighed, took a step back and grabbed her tail with his magic when she rushed in for another blow. She jerked to a halt right in front of his face, just inches out of hoof range. “Hey!” she shouted. “Lemme go!” Shining Armor glared at her. “Featherbrain, I was just minding my own business when you slammed into me. I thought you were attacking me and I reacted. Can we please stop this?” That finally seemed to get through the angry mare’s skull. She stopped straining against his telekinetic grip and looked a little sheepish. “Oh, yeah. Right” she said, running a hoof through her mane as she did. “Sorry. Uh, could you maybe let me down?” Shining Armor let go of her tail. He remained wary in case she came at him again. Instead she landed a few feet away from the mud slick. She looked at it, then back up at Shining Armor and his mud splattered coat. “Yeah, uh… guess I sort of overdid it,” she said. Embarrassment had started to set in. “See, I was practicing this wicked new stunt and…” She trailed off. “Wow,” she finished lamely. “Yeah,” Shining Armor said deadpan. “Wow.” The mare shrugged. The cockiness flowed back into her. “Eh, whatever. You know how much most colts would pay to roll around with the Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow Dash struck a pose. Shining Armor looked annoyed. “The Rainbow Dash?” she reiterated after an uncomfortable pause. “Won the Best Young Flier competition in Cloudsdale? Set an academy record qualifying for the Wonderbolts Reserve?” “I’m still wondering how much these colts paid you,” Shining Armor said. A glob of mud fell off his mane. “Oh, a lot,” Rainbow Dash said airily. She puffed out her chest as she did. “And worth every bi—HEY!” Shining Armor smirked as he turned around. “Let’s go, Twily. Hope this library has a working shower...Twily?” His sister was gone. Shining Armor was scanning for her when a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see a heavy rain cloud hanging just a few feet above him. Rainbow Dash’s scratchy voice issued from it. “Need a shower, huh? Here, lemme help you with that.” With that she started to hop up and down on the cloud. Pegasus magic hit the cloud and produced an instant downpour. Shining Armor tried to move out from under it, but his hooves slipped on the suddenly slick ground and he fell. Hard. Rainbow Dash landed next to him. “Heh, oops. You alright?” † Twilight sighed in relief as she took over her saddlebags and laid them next to the desk of the library’s cozy second floor bedroom. Shining Armor had vanished somewhere along the way, but for once Twilight was happy her BBBFF wasn’t around. She levitated a book and a small wooden box out of her saddlebags, placed them on the desk and opened the book to a familiar bookmark. “On the longest day of the thousandth year the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal,” Twilight read aloud. Twilight looked at the cutie mark on her flank before opening the box and inspecting the specially prepared gems inside. Two of them already glowed with an amber and magenta light. She smiled. Then she turned to stare out the window into the bright afternoon sky. “For you, Princess,” she whispered. “I’m going to make you happy again.” † Rarity didn’t look up from her work as Carousel Boutique’s door chimes rang. “Just a minute!” she sang. “I’m in the zone, as it were.” A coltish voice answered, “Hey, uh, Rarity, right? Got a pony who needs some help here.” Rarity sighed and turned to see a pegasus she recognized from around town supporting an incredibly handsome stallion with a soaking wet coat that showed off every line of his superb physique. Rarity fainted on the spot. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Oh, super.” Author's Note Thanks to the wise and generous SFaccountant for supporting this. Chapter 2“Thanks again for looking at my leg,” Shining Armor said as he finally finished limping to the Golden Oak Library. “What did you say your name was again?” The pretty yellow pegasus beside him blushed and ducked behind her long pink mane. She mumbled something indistinct. “What was that?” Shining Armor asked. “Her name is Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash explained from the other side and a few feet up. The annoying pegasus had thus far resisted all attempts to get her to go away. “She gets like this around strangers. Don’t worry about it.” Shining Armor shrugged and knocked on the door. He waited for a response. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Dude, it’s a library. You don’t have to knock. Haven’t you ever been to one?” “Have you?” Shining Armor grumbled. Rainbow Dash started to say something, stopped and then fell silent. Shining Armor smirked as he opened the door and walked in. The interior of the library was pitch black. “Twily?” Shining Armor called out. “Hey Rainbow Dash, where’s the—” Suddenly the lights came on and a familiar voice shouted, “SURPRISE!” “Meep!” Fluttershy squeaked. “Ugh, not her again,” Rainbow Dash muttered. The pink menace struck. "Hi there!" the pink pony from before said perkily. She had popped beside Shining Armor as he walked into the party streamer filled library. "Were you surprised?! Were you, huh, were you?" “Very surprised!” Shining Armor said. He scanned the ponies milling about the room. “Nopony told me there was going to be a party.” “Well duh!” Pinkie Pie said with a roll of her eyes. “What kind of surprise party would it be if somepony told you about it?!” Pinkie Pie hopped alongside Shining Armor as he navigated the room. “When I saw you and your sister earlier I didn't know you, and if I didn't know you that meant that you were new, because I know everypony, and I mean EVERYPONY in Ponyville! And if you were new that meant—” “Twily!” Shining Armor interrupted. Can you tell me where she is? Pinkie Pie waved a hoof at the stairs. “Oh, she said something about how libraries are supposed to ‘be quiet’ and barricaded herself upstairs. I mean sheesh, what kind of party would it be if it were quiet? Anyway, she has some sort of redirect ward set up in the bedroom so I was hoping you could go talk to her before I have to break out my Party Cannon.” Pinkie Pie fluttered her eyelashes as she said that last bit. “Right,” Shining Armor said as they neared the stairwell. He stopped as multiple things about that diatribe registered. “Wait, what? Ward? Party Cannon? And how did you know she was my sister?” Pinkie Pie waved a hoof in front of herself as if inspecting its polish. “Oh, Pinkamina has her ways,” she said coolly. The manic energy had suddenly vanished. “Pinkamina has her ways.” With that she shoved a cup full of something at Shining Armor and gave him a flank bump toward the stairs before bouncing off. Shining Armor tried to process what had just happened. Then he gave up and started up the stairs. † “Hey Twily?” Shining Armor said as he rounded the top of the stairs. “You there?” “Mhmm,” Twilight said. Shining Armor recognized that tone and was not surprised to see his sister seated at a small desk surrounded by books and papers. A candle floated in the air nearby, its wick burning cheerily. Apparently Twilight had run out of space to set it down. “Sorry I got separated from you,” Shining Armor said once it became clear that no further questions would be forthcoming. “This really annoying pony bumped into me and, well…” He waved his injured foreleg gingerly. “Sprained my leg,” he finished lamely. No response. Twilight continued scribbling notes for whatever she was working on. “I'm fine though!” Shining Armor said. He fought down his annoyance. He knew trying to draw his sister out was probably a lost cause, but he had to try. “There was this nice filly named Fluttershy who was kind enough to take a look at it, and she says—” Twilight looked up at that. “Shining! You're hurt!” Shining Armor resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Yes, thank you for noticing. She's downstairs now. Did you know there's a party going on?” Twilight smiled. Shining Armor couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her do that. It looked different from her normal smile and Shining Armor wasn't sure how to react to it. His sister kept on speaking. “Well then, we should definitely go thank her,” Twilight said briskly. She stowed something into her saddlebags and walked toward the stairs. “Lead the way, B.B.B.F.F!” As Shining Armor started down the stairs Twilight bumped into him. He lurched forward and tumbled down the stairs.” Twilight shouted, “Shining!” and followed him down. Her voice was concerned, but she was still smiling. Something glowed pink inside her saddlebags. † “That’s the second party you’ve ruined this week,” Shining Armor groused. He was dressed in full Royal Guard ensemble. The gold armor hid most of his bruises and made him cautiously optimistic about not picking up any new ones. His sister stood next to him in formal robes. She waved a dismissive hoof. “Having an unscheduled party like that was a safety hazard. And Moondancer will get over it.” “Everypony was enjoying themselves!” Shining Armor protested. “And everypony can enjoy themselves again when Pink...something, gets the proper permits,” Twilight said firmly. Pinkie Pie popped up out of thin air right next to Twilight. “Actually I filed all the paperwork at Town Hall ahead of time!” she perked. She produced a sheaf of forms from her mane as proof. “Gah!” Twilight said. Shining Armor snickered at his sister’s reaction. Pinkie Pie joined in with a giggle fit of her own. Twilight glowered and levitated the pink menace off the stage. Something in her pocket glowed blue. Shining Armor knew his sister well enough to be cautious about unexplained magical glows. “Twily?” he asked. “What was that?” Twilight opened her mouth but was cut off by trumpets from the balcony above. “Ladies and gentlecolts,” said a silver maned pony in a cravat. “It is my great pleasure to…” Twilight spoke in a strained whisper as the local politician speechified. “Shining!” she hissed. Shining Armor turned to regard his sister. “Yeah?” “Shining, I need you to answer an important question. Do you trust me?” Shining Armor frowned. His sister sounded desperate, even scared. His answer came as reflex, as if he was saying the sun was bright. “Yes Twily, I absolutely trust you. No matter what.” Twilight smiled. A tear fell down the side of her face. “Thank you, B.B.B.F.F.” As Mayor Mayor finished welcoming the good and wise Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle lowered her head and blasted her brother with magic at point blank range. It hit him square in the chest. The force of the blow sent him flying up to land in a heap on the balcony above at Princess Celestia’s hooves just as his monarch stepped out to greet the crowd. Dead silence reigned. Everypony except for Shining Armor looked at Twilight. Shining Armor was too busy looking at the tiny Rainbow Dashes flying circles around his head. “Aha!” Twilight said in a forced laugh. She continued in a flat monotone, clearly reciting a prepared speech. “At long last my treacherous plan has come to fruition and my ascension is nigh! I have overthrown your pitiful Guard Celestia, and now I claim my throne as the new queen of Equestria!” Nopony was sure how to react to that. “Twilight, what are you doing?” Celestia said. Twilight’s heart skipped a beat. She stammered for a response. A multi color flash from inside her robes snapped her back to her senses. “The plan,” she whispered to herself as she levitated five glowing crystalline charms of her own design out of her robes. They began to orbit around her, fast and bright. “By friendships broken and trust betrayed I conjure you!” Twilight shouted. “By harmony disrupted I shatter your chains! Let the stars aid in your escape! Nightmare Moon, I bid you come forth!” The glowing crystals had continued to swirl around Twilight in a colorful blur as she spoke the incantation. When she said the name of the villain who haunted every foal in Equestria’s darkest dreams they stopped abruptly. The light vanished as they turned jet black. They hovered quivering in place for a long moment before shooting up like bullets. They smashed through the ceiling of the decrepit town hall without slowing down. Plaster and dust rained down behind them. Princess Celestia’s eyes were wide now. “Twilight, what did you just do?” she asked, very softly. Twilight beamed. She started to say something but before she could a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane came hurtling toward her with evident mayhem in mind, Twilight reached out with her magic and telekinetically grabbed the angry mare by the tail and jerked her to a stop. She hung there helplessly, struggling and shouting. “Well well well,” purred a new voice. “Isn’t this a surprise?” A cold wind swept the room, extinguishing lanterns and drawing shivers from the crowd. An alicorn as black as a forest night stepped out of the darkest corner. She gave Celestia a hateful glare before favoring Twilight with a raised eyebrow. “To think that somepony still remembers me after a thousand years and loves me enough to summon me back,” Nightmare Moon continued. “Well done, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight started to shout another rehearsed line but stopped short. Whatever she had expected Nightmare Moon to say, that hadn’t been it. “You know my name?” she asked cautiously. Nightmare Moon smiled. A tendril of her starry mane reached over the caress the bottom of Twilight’s muzzle. “But of course! My sister has had some truly awful dreams about you.” “Luna,” Celestia said with quiet authority. “Get away from her.” Nightmare Moon’s head snapped up to glare balefully at her sister. “There is no Luna!” she bellowed. “Equestria has but one princess now!” The two alicorns locked stares. The air positively hummed with tension as they gathered their powers. Nightmare Moon was completely focused on her arch nemesis. That realization brought Twilight back to her senses. Her eyes blazed with dark magic as she struck. It wasn’t a blast of magical force or destructive energies. Twilight attacked Equestria’s boogymare with a spell she had adapted from a very old book written by Celestia’s own quill and hidden away in a very secure chamber in the caverns beneath Canterlot. Originally it had let the caster divest herself of her magic and transfer it to another pony. Now it did the opposite. Nightmare Moon started to turn as the spell hit her. A contemptuous smile was already forming as she prepared to brush aside whatever feeble magic the mortal unicorn was throwing at her. That smile turned into an agonized rictus as the draining spell struck home and simply ripped away a part of the magic that made her an alicorn. Her body bowed in pain and her coat flickered from black to blue for a heartbeat as dark, dark lines crackled out from her and into her attacker. Twilight’s eyes had gone solid white, the black aura of the forbidden spell burning around them in an inverted corona. She channeled more and more magic into the attack, more than she ever had before. Somepony screamed and neither of them could tell if it was Twilight Sparkle or Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon had never been in such pain before. She found that she did not like it. In fact, it terrified her. Details about the situation spun and rotated through the part of her mind that was still able to think straight. The mental math clicked and the alicorn realized why this was happening. With a last, desperate effort she tore up a heavy part of the stage and hurled it at Celestia with all the force she could muster. Twilight’s focus broke as she registered the threat to her teacher. “Princess!” she cried. Her spell faltered as she reflexively reached out to snatch the makeshift missile out of the air with her magic. Nightmare Moon donkey kicked Twilight with her remaining magical strength. There was a whoomph of impact and the little pony was sent flying. Nightmare Moon staggered back herself. Her legs trembled as she struggled to remain standing. Her barding had been mostly torn away during the fight. As she looked herself over her draconic eyes widened at the sight of her cutie mark fading in and out of visibility. “Y—You little foal!” she gasped. Nightmare Moon’s form blurred and turned into a cloud of sparkling motes as she gathered what was left of her power. She flew up and out through the damaged ceiling. “No!” Twilight shouted over the sound of panicking ponies. There was a lavender flash and then she too was gone. Chapter 3“Oh my goodness, I think he’s waking up!” said a soft voice from somewhere above Shining Armor. “Everypony stand back and let him get some air,” somepony else cautioned. Applejack, he realized. Shining Armor rubbed his head and groaned as he opened his eyes. He wasn’t in town hall anymore. A quick look around told him that he was back in the library. A library which appeared to be spinning around and wobbling. Shining Armor winced and closed his eyes again. “What happened?” he croaked. “That’s what we were hoping you could tell us, darling.” Shining Armor opened his eyes to see the unicorn from before looking down at him. She blushed prettily but managed not to fall into a swoon this time. “Yeah!” shouted the annoying pegasus. She touched down next to him and glared at him from well inside his personal space. “What did your sister do to our princess?!” That jerked Shining Armor back to reality. “Twilight!” he shouted. He sat up, smacking Rainbow Dash in the face as he did. She sputtered in outrage and started to respond in kind. Applejack grabbed her by the tail and dragged her away before violence could ensue. “Now simmer down Sally,” Applejack said through a mouthful of multicolored hair. “He wouldn’t have gotten all banged up like that if he had known what was going to happen.” Rainbow Dash stopped struggling. Applejack spat her tail out. She turned and looked Shining Armor square in the eye. “But I reckon he can help us figure out exactly what’s going on.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash filled Shining Armor in on what he had missed. Pinkie Pie pantomimed the more theatrical parts. Shining Armor’s head swam as he took it all in. “I knew Twily had been acting odd lately,” he muttered. “I thought it was just stress from organizing things and worrying about the princess.” Rarity lifted an eyebrow. “Worried about the princess?’ As in Princess Celestia?” Shining Armor nodded gingerly. “Why ever would that be?” Rarity pushed. “Ooh!” Pinkie Pie said. “Has she been sick? Or sad? Or out of cake? Or—” “Yes,” Shining Armor said. “Oh no, Princess Celestia is out of cake?!” Pinkie Pie gasped. She was clearly horrified. “No...I mean yes...I mean...oww.” Fluttershy crouched down next to him and held a damp cloth against his throbbing forehead. “Try not to move too quickly,” she said. The beautiful pegasus had the sweetest little voice. Shining Armor couldn’t help relaxing slightly. After the dizziness subsided Shining Armor spoke again. “My sister is Princess Celestia’s personal student. For the past year, maybe more, the princess has been in a deep depression. She’s withdrawn from official duties and as near as anypony can tell she has secluded herself in her private chambers. Every pony in a position to know about this has been concerned, but my sister…” Shining Armor grimaced again. This time it wasn’t from the headache. “Twilight has always been close to the princess. She took it hard.” “Ya don’t say,” Applejack snarked. “You have to know her,” Shining Armor explained. “When Twilight gets fixated on solving something nothing distracts her until she’s done it. When she can’t find a solution…She can get a little crazy,” Applejack raised an eyebrow at that. Rarity arched an eyebrow at Applejack and mouthed the word ‘stubborn.’ Applejack gave Rarity an annoyed look. Rainbow Dash ignored them both. “Yeah yeah, but what does that have to do with an old mare’s tale like Nightmare Moon?” Fluttershy shuddered. “The princess called her ‘Luna.” “Yes,” Rarity said thoughtfully. “And whoever she was she said something about her sister having bad dreams about this Twilight Sparkle.” “So what does that all mean?” Rainbow Dash demanded. “Maybe Nightmare Moon is Princess Celestia’s long-lost sister!” Pinkie Pie chimed in. Applejack sighed. “Pinkamina Diane Pie, we’re being serious here.” “The princess,” Shining Armor interjected. “Where is she?” “Took off after the whole fracas,” Applejack supplied. “Said something about protecting the Elements of Harmony.” Shining Armor blinked. “I know that name. Twily said something about them not long ago.” “Yeah?” Rainbow Dash asked. “What are they?” “No idea,” Shining Armor admitted. Everypony except Pinkie Pie sagged at that. “The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide,” Pinkie Pie said. Everypony looked to see Pinkie Pie pulling a book off the shelf. “However did you find that?” Rarity asked. “It was under E!” Pinkie Pie sang as she hopped over to a table. The others crowded around as Pinkie Pie laid the book open on the table and began to read from it. Afterward Shining Armor frowned in thought. “Most powerful magic known to ponykind, huh?” he said. “Least til your sister found out about it,” Applejack said drily. “So that must be where Princess Celestia went, right?” Rainbow Dash said. “To get these Element things and use them to put Nightmare Moon away again?” “Maybe,” Shining Armor said. “And if we figured it out Nightmare Moon probably has too. She’ll want to get to them first to head the princess off.” “And, uhm, your sister was chasing after Nightmare Moon,” Fluttershy pointed out. Shining Armor nodded. The dizziness was fading. “And that means that if I want to find Twily I need to find these Elements of Harmony.” Rainbow Dash surprised him by bumping his shoulder with her hoof. “We need to find them, you mean.” Shining Armor looked at Rainbow Dash in surprise. She shrugged. “Can’t let you go alone when you’re all beaten up. So...where are they?” “Whelp,” Applejack said. “Good news is the book says ya don’t need to go far.” “Seriously?” Shining Armor said. There had to be a catch. “Yup,” Applejack said. “They were last seen in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.” Shining Armor frowned. “Never heard of it.” Applejack winced. “Well, it’s in…” † “...The Everfree Forest is supposed to be a lot less blown up than this,” Shining Armor commented to Applejack as they picked their way over the rubble of what had been a fair-sized ridge. “Reckon we know which way they headed,” Applejack said as she hopped ahead to get off a chunk of stone that had started to slide underneath her. She grunted slightly and checked her hat once she was back on relatively secure footing. “So, uh, your sister. She’s really that powerful? Never woulda figured such a little pony could do…” Applejack waved a hoof at the wreckage. “All this.” “Yeah, Twily’s always been a prodigy,” Shining Armor said. He flicked his horn and brushed some sharp looking rocks away from the next chunk of stone. “The princess made Twily her personal student the day she got her cutie mark.” Applejack hopped to another level patch. “Oh? How’d that shake out?” “Hatched a dragon. Blew up a building. Turned our parents into potted plants,” Shining Armor said. Applejack froze. “Seriously?” Shining Armor nodded. “Yup.” Applejack whistled. “Land’s sakes.” “They got better,” Shining Armor added. Applejack relaxed a bit. “Oh, okay then. Was concerned for a sec there.” Shining Armor banged his already injured leg and winced. “Yeah, I think the princess took her on as much to teach her how not to do that again as anything else.” Applejack looked around and whistled. “And here Ah thought Apple Bloom and her two friends were a walking disaster zone.” She saw Shining Armor’s expression and grimaced. “Sorry. Didn’t mean…” “I know,” he said shortly. He chuckled bitterly. “Some big brother and Captain of the Royal Guard I turned out to be.” “Hey now,” Applejack said. “I didn’t see this coming when it was my duty twice over. I got knocked senseless when the princess was in probably more danger than any other time since the Guard was formed. And for all I know Twily is—” “Hey!” Applejack said. She jumped onto the same chunk of rock as Shining Armor, grabbed his shoulder and forced him to turn and look at her. She locked eyes with him. “Now you listen here. Ah don’t know you or your sister or the princess for that matter, but a blind fruit bat could see how much you love your little sister. You wouldn’t be walking through the Everfree at night all beat up like this if you weren’t a good big brother or a good guard pony. Ah may not rightly understand everything that’s going on here, but Ah know you’re going to be there for your sister come what may, cus Ah’m going to make sure you get there. Understand me?” Shining Armor’s eyes teared up and he started to sway a bit. Applejack held him up firmly but gently. “Thank you.” “S’nothing but the honest truth,” she said. They had made their way across the rubble. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were already waiting. Rainbow Dash was hovering with her hooves on her flanks. “Come on you guys,” she said testily. “Rarity, how you coming along back there?” Applejack called back. “Just a minute!” Rarity huffed. Applejack rolled her eyes. “Ah swear, if you’re looking for diamonds or making sculptures or something Ah will…” While the two bickered Shining Armor scanned the area. The forest resumed a couple dozen feet ahead. There were no conveniently leveled trees to point the way. He frowned as he tried to remember the not very good map they’d found in the library. “Something isn’t right here,” said a quiet voice from right behind him. “The animals are all scared,” Shining Armor nearly jumped out of his coat. “Fluttershy!” he shouted. That pony was too quiet by half. Fluttershy cringed away so much her belly was nearly touching the ground. “Oh, I’m sorry.” Shining Armor shook his head. “It’s alright. What do you mean not right?” “The animals are all scared. I can hear them nearby, but they’re hiding,” she said. “Well, sounds like they have better sense than us,” Shining Armor said. Fluttershy’s ears tilted back in alarm. Shining Armor mentally kicked himself. “I’m sorry, I mean…” “It’s okay,” she said. “How is your leg?” “My leg?” Shining Armor said? “Oh, it’s fine. Still sore but I can walk on it fine.” Rarity had rejoined them by this point. They made their way into the woods. After about five minutes they found themselves staring into the muzzle of an angry manticore. The magical super predator roared in rage at them. Shining Armor instinctively threw up a shield over the group before it could pounce. It remained there, crouched and menacing. “Okay everypony,” Shining Armor said. “Let’s just circle around it. Don’t make any sudden moves and don’t run. If we don’t set it off then maybe...Fluttershy?” The pretty pegasus had slipped around his shield and was fluttering toward the manticore. The monster roared again, and the force of the sound plastering her mane back. Everypony shouted in alarm. The gestalt of their protests was that getting near the carnivorous beast was a bad idea. Fluttershy ignored them all. She moved her muzzle close to one of the manticore’s big paws and whispered something. The manticore looked confused and held its paw out for inspection. Fluttershy gasped. “Oh dear!” she said. And without a moment’s hesitation she pulled a nasty looking stone splinter out of the manticore’s paw. The manticore roared in pain and seized Fluttershy with its free paw. Everypony tensed to spring forward, knowing it was too late. Fluttershy...giggled. “Aww, you’re just a big old kitty!” she said as the giant creature licked her mane and face. Once it settled down she reached into her bag and pulled out a roll of bandages. “Now I need you to hold still for just a second…” Once she had finished cleaning and bandaging the injury she nuzzled the manticore one last time and turned to her companions. Shining Armor’s jaw was hanging open. “Fluttershy, that was amazing!” he said. “But that was a crazy risk.” Fluttershy smiled. “Everypony deserves some kindness when they’re hurt.” She paused, then added, “Oh, and he says that he got hurt by an angry-looking pony who was chasing a cloud of smoke. I asked and he said he could show us the way.” Shining Armor was dumbfounded. “...How?” Fluttershy smiled again. “I asked nicely.” Chapter 4When they finally reached the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters it was surrounded by a giant dome of purple magic. As clues went that seemed like a pretty good one. “Twily’s in there,” Shining Armor said. He sounded certain. The other ponies looked impressed. Even Rainbow Dash. “Sweet Celestia,” said Rarity. She levitated a rock and tossed it at the forcefield. The light rippled and the rock ricocheted back into the forest like a shot. “An’ you’re sure it’s her doin’ this and not Nightmare Moon?” Applejack asked. Shining Armor nodded. “I taught her this spell.” Everypony cocked an eyebrow at that. Shining Armor resisted the urge to blush. “Alright everypony,” he began. “Thank you for all your help. I’m not asking you to go in there with—” “Yeah yeah,” Rainbow Dash said impatiently. “Didn’t we already do this song and dance?” “Indeed,” Rarity said firmly. “We are not leaving you to deal with…” she shuddered. “...This alone.” The others chimed in with the same sentiment. Even Fluttershy from atop her manticore, though its rumble mostly drowned her out. Fluttershy patted the big cat thing to thank it for speaking on her behalf. Rainbow Dash spared her friend an annoyed look. “She has no idea how awesome she looks right now,” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself. Shining Armor wiped the corner of his eye. “Thanks girls. Now then.” Shining Armor faced the magical forcefield. His horn began to glow the same color. “I’m going to open a way in. Once you see an opening, hurry. It won’t last long.” With that he fired a burst of magic from his horn. A section of the shield about ten feet across began to twist and unspool where it hit. Rainbow Dash was the first one through and the rest scampered after her. Fluttershy took up the rear. Her manticore plucked Shining Armor up with its tail as they passed and hauled him in before the forcefield snapped shut again. “Good boy!” Fluttershy said. She scratched the manticore behind the ear and it purred loud enough to drown out the other ponies gasping for breath. “Seriously, not a clue,” Rainbow Dash said. She was blushing for some reason. Applejack made a mental note to tease her rival about it later. Once they were past the shield the ponies heard the sound of battle from further inside. They raced through the crumbling palace with Shining Armor in the lead, hurdling debris and ducking through partially collapsed doorways until they found themselves inside a large room on one of the upper floors. It reminded Shining Armor of the throne room in Canterlot. The similarity was pushed out of his mind when he saw his sister on the far side of the chamber. She was shaking and exhausted, but her horn glowed bright enough to keep the center of the room lit. A white form lay sprawled on the floor behind her. Princess Celestia. Shining Armor began to speak. A voice from the shadows pre-empted him. “You are a such a strange little pony, Twilight Sparkle,” said Nightmare Moon. She sounded amused. “First you free Celestia’s greatest enemy and now you risk your life to protect her.” Something flickered behind a pillar. Twilight blasted it into dust. Mocking laughter filled the room. “Curiouser and curiouser,” Nightmare Moon teased. “What madness drove you to summon and challenge me? Was it pride?” A tendril of shadow snaked around half of a broken statue and whipped it at Twilight. Twilight barely managed to deflect it in time to avoid being crushed. Shining Armor’s eyes went wide as he realized his sister was afraid to dodge for fear of leaving the princess vulnerable. “Part of her has always been afraid of what you can do,” Nightmare Moon continued. Her tone was almost conversational. “Did you know that? Her dreams where you betrayed her were just exquisitely dark. Though even she never thought you would reverse engineer Tirek’s magic draining spell. Kudos for exceeding expectations.” Twilight glared as she tried to spot her adversary. Her eyes widened as she saw her brother, then narrowed as she began to formulate a plan. “And what about you, ‘Luna?” Twilight shot back. “Does she dream about you crying because nopony liked you?” Another masonry missile came flying out of the dark. Twilight parried it easily this time. Her voice turned mocking. “She wants you back more than anything, you know. Can’t imagine why, but she does.” That struck a nerve. Nightmare Moon came swooping out of the shadows straight at Twilight. Twilight feigned panic, looking like she was going to flee or throw up a shield...then grabbed Celestia with her magic and threw her across the room just before the black alicorn smashed into her. Shining Armor grabbed his monarch with his magic. He grunted with the effort until Rainbow Dash flew up to help. Together they lowered her to the ground. Shining Armor raised his shield spell again just as Nightmare Moon turned her gaze on them. “How—” she said before Twilight slugged her in the side of the head. The midnight alicorn snarled and bared her fangs. She was inches from biting down on Twilight’s throat when the magic draining spell connected again. “No more hiding behind other ponies this time!” Twilight shouted triumphantly as magic poured out of Nightmare Moon and into her like water falling from a pitcher. Nightmare Moon’s starry mane flattened into simple blue hair as dark power arced between them. Thunder boomed and the alicorn was sent flying after her sister. She landed in a sprawl, sliding to a stop a few inches away from Shining Armor. The imposing figure of Nightmare Moon was gone, replaced by a smaller alicorn with a dark blue coat. Celestia’s eyes fluttered open. “Luna?” she whispered. “What in the hay just happened?” Applejack asked, speaking for everypony. “I’m giving the princess her sister back,” Twilight Sparkle said matter of factly. Everypony looked back up at her and gasped. The same sparkling cloud of magic that had surrounded Nightmare Moon was swirling around Twilight now. As they watched it settled at her sides, taking the form of a pair of starry wings. Her eyes glowed and shifted, taking on the draconic appearance of her vanquished foe. “Twily?” Shining Armor asked hesitantly. He dropped his shield. “Are you alright?” His sister responded with a too wide grin that sparked uncomfortable memories of the one and only time she had been late with her homework. “Alright?! Of course I’m alright! I’ve never been better! I just did what we’ve been trying to do all this time?” Shining Armor gulped. “...Beat Nightmare Moon?” Twilight’s new wings flapped once. The gesture was enough to create a gust of wind that cleared the dust and debris from that side of the room. Shining Armor coughed and closed his eyes. “Make the princess happy again, of course!” Twilight said in that too manic tone. Something shifted behind Shining Armor. He looked back to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack helping the princess to her hooves. “Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said. Weakened and woozy, her voice still thrummed with authority. “What have you done?” Twilight froze, looking very much like a filly who had been caught doing something she knew she wasn’t supposed to. She flicked her ears and pawed at the ground nervously. “You were so sad,” Twilight said. The crazy had drained out of her voice. “I tried everything I could think of, but nothing worked. So I started researching the problem. I found old texts about the origins of the Mare in the Moon legend. I remembered you saying the name Luna and I put the pieces together. I thought...if I could take her magic away, weaken her enough that she couldn’t fight you…” Twilight gulped. “Then you could talk to her and have your sister back.” Celestia had regained her hooves while Twilight spoke, though she still leaned on Applejack for support. She took one step, two steps, then she was standing over her sister. “Twilight, I—” The blue alicorn cut her off with a wad of spit to the face. “It was always about you,” Luna hissed. Twilight’s eyes flared. “HOW DARE YOU?!” she boomed in a voice that rattled stone. Her horn flared and a lance of violet magic streaked at Luna. “YOU NEVER DESERVED HER!” Celestia lurched away from Applejack and in front of her sister. Twilight’s attack battered aside her attempt to parry it and struck her square on the horn. She crumpled. Twilight screamed at the sight of her beloved teacher stricken. “You!” she snarled at Luna. Literal smoke came out of her nostrils as she snorted like a bull. “You did that!” Shining Armor caught his liege as she fell. “The Elements of Harmony,” Celestia gasped. “You have to use them to—” Celestia’s eyes rolled back into her head. She fainted. Shining Armor looked from his ruler to her sister to his sister and made a tactical decision. He plopped Celestia in front of Fluttershy on the manticore, slung Luna over his own back, turned and fled. “Everypony run!” Most of them didn’t need to be told. Rainbow Dash was a beat slower, but once Twilight started spamming death rays in that direction she decided to accede to Shining Armor’s command experience. The ponies tore out of the throne room and raced pell-mell through the castle, an extremely angry newborn alicorn in hot pursuit. “Applejack!” Shining Armor said as they stumbled into an antechamber. “Any idea what these Elements of Harmony look like?” “Not a clue,” Applejack admitted. “Ooh, do you think they’re a bunch of big round stones with magic-y symbols carved into them?” Pinkie Pie suggested. “Why ever would you say…” Rarity began, then sighed. “...You’re looking at them right now, aren’t you?” Indeed, Pinkie Pie was standing in front of a large decoration in the middle of the room. An inscription at the bottom read “The Elements of Harmony.” “Okay, so...what do we do with them?” Rainbow Dash asked. “...I don’t know,” Shining Armor admitted. He could hear Twilight smashing her way closer. “Applejack?” “Do Ah look like an unicorn?” Applejack snapped. “Fluttershy, any luck with the princess?” Fluttershy had laid Princess Celestia out on the stone floor and was examining her. She shook her head. Princess Celestia was out cold. Shining Armor cursed. Luna groaned on top of his back. “Arrange the Elements of Harmony in a circle,” she slurred. “Best if she walks in the middle.” “Why the hay should we believe a word you say?” Rainbow Dash demanded. Luna smirked. “Because my flank is first on the chopping block if I lie.” Hard to argue with that. Shining Armor didn’t try. He started levitating the Elements down and motioned for Rainbow Dash to help. “Okay, then what?” † Twilight came barging in to see her brother standing next to a prone Princess Luna. She marched in slowly, magic swirling around her ready to repel any ambush. “Twily,” Shining Armor said in that tone of voice you use with crazy people. “You don’t have to do this.” “THERE IS NO TWILIGHT!” she boomed. “THERE IS ONLY MIDNIGHT SPARKLE!” Dark alicorn magic was one hell of a drug. Shining Armor lowered his head and cast the spell Luna had described.”Right. This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.” Magic jumped and crackled like electricity from one Element of Harmony to the next, forming a circle around Twilight. Twilight looked down in alarm. The magic sizzled and popped, grew brighter...then died out. Twilight looked at her brother. She laughed hysterically and lashed out with her magic. All five of the Elements of Harmony shattered. Luna groaned in resignation. Twilight’s eyes fixed back onto her quarry. Shining Armor decided the situation had just officially become hopeless. And that was when he felt a hoof on his shoulder. He looked back to see Rarity standing next to him. The other girls were arrayed behind him. And suddenly he understood. “You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony that easily?” he told his sister. “You’re wrong. Because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!” Something began to shift around Twilight’s hooves. The newbie alicorn looked nervous. “Rarity, who went out into the Everfree Forest at night to help a pony she barely even knew represents the Element of Generosity!” A glowing bit of crystal leapt up and flew over to hover in front of Rarity. Shining Armor kept talking. “Applejack, who comforted me when I was in doubt represents the Element of Honesty!” Another flare of light, this one amber. “Rainbow Dash, who wouldn’t abandon a companion no matter what the peril represents the Element of Loyalty!” There was coruscation of light in every color of the rainbow. “Fluttershy, who showed us the way forward by taking the time to help a wounded manticore represents the Element of Kindness!” Fluttershy squeaked as she was levitated up and forward. A choker with a pink gem shaped like a butterfly appeared on her neck. “And Pinkie Pie, who laughed in the face of danger and kept our spirits alive when the night was darkest represents the Element of Laughter!” The light was getting brighter now, melding into something Twilight had to shield her eyes against. She hissed.“But I broke the seal! The Elements of Harmony are gone!” “You’re wrong Twily,” Shining Armor said. His voice was gentle. “Because together the Elements of Harmony represent something you’ve always needed more than anything else. You’ve spent your entire life learning to control Magic, but friendship is what makes it all complete!” A crown with a gem bearing an eerie resemblance to Twilight’s cutie mark materialized in the air above Shining Armor. He bowed as it set down on his head. It glowed in unison with the necklaces around the necks of the other five ponies. Shining Armor’s eyes turned white and with a rush of arcane power a giant double rainbow burst up from the six ponies. It twisted upward in a double helix before slamming down onto Twilight, smashing past her magical defenses and ripping away the dark power she had stolen. When everypony’s eyesight recovered, ‘Midnight Sparkle’ was gone and Twilight was laying in a heap. † “Well Ah’ll be,” Applejack said bemusedly. “And here Ah thought you were spouting a lot of hooey Shining Armor, but Ah reckon we do represent the Elements of Harmony.” “Indeed you do,” came an ethereal voice. The ponies turned to see Princess Celestia back on her hooves and smiling down benevolently at them. The five mares bowed while Shining Armor stiffened and threw a sharp salute. The manticore took that as a cue to run away. “I failed to see the signs of what my faithful student had planned,” Princess Celestia continued. “The power of the Elements of Harmony is one that no amount of study or practice can harness. Only by allowing true friendship into your heart can they be reborn. Now if only another will as well.” Princess Celestia looked down at her sister. “Princess Luna,” she said gently. “It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. We were meant to rule together, little sister. Will you accept my friendship?” Princess Luna trembled as she rose to her hooves again. From the looks of it she was considering another spitwad. Then her eyes turned moist and she rushed forward. Shining Armor tensed as the other alicorn’s horn came perilously close to his ruler’s chest and throat, but the lost princess only hugged her sister. “I missed you so much, big sister,” Princess Luna sobbed. “I missed you too Luna,” Princess Celestia replied with equal emotion. Rocks slid and hooves scraped the floor as Twilight Sparkle stirred. Both alicorns turned to look at her. The little unicorn flinched as she saw their gazes. “I, I’m so sorry,” she stammered. “I never meant—” “Hold, Twilight Sparkle,” Princess Luna said. Royal authority was already returning to her voice. Twilight fell silent and cringed. “As We understand it you undid the seal imprisoning us on Our moon in hopes of reuniting us with Our sister,” Luna continued. Twilight nodded. Luna held Twilight’s gaze before looking back to her sister. “While her judgment may have been lacking, Twilight Sparkle’s affection for you cannot be denied. We are in no position to condemn another for decisions born of an excess of despair.” Celestia’s face was unreadable. “Twilight Sparkle,” she said. Twilight flinched again. “Step forward.” Twilight did so. She was clearly terrified. “I’m, I’m so, I didn’t mean—” Celestia cut her student off by grabbing her with both forelegs and pulling her in for a tight hug. Twilight automatically hugged her back. “You have brought light back into my world, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia whispered. Luna caught Twilight’s eye. “Enemies though we may have been, we both love my sister. Let that common ground be our foundation from this moment on.” Celestia reached over with one fluffy wing and pulled her sister into the hug. Pinkie Pie broke down sobbing with joy. “Hey,” she said to the mares standing next to her. “Do you know what this calls for?” Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack sighed as she finished with, “A party!” Once the group hug was over Shining Armor cleared his throat. “Princess Celestia?” She looked at him. “Yes, Captain Shining Armor?” “Requesting permission to collapse unconscious.” Princess Celestia smiled. “Permission granted.
Chapter 1“Princess Celestia wishes to be alone,” the guard standing sentry in front of the royal bedroom said firmly. Academian Twilight Sparkle’s eyes flashed behind her glasses. She stomped her right hoof primly on the marble floor as she looked up at the larger unicorn. The guard stirred uneasily, as did his companion on the other side of the door. “What part of ‘critical importance’ do you not understand?” Twilight demanded, looking entirely too imposing for a slightly built mare in glasses and a lab coat. The two guards remained at rigid attention. Twilight’s lips pressed into a thin line. She looked out the tower window to the panoramic view outside. The guards intuited from her expression that the unicorn prodigy they had known since she was a filly was either thinking of calling in her brother or throwing them off the mountainside Canterlot Castle was built into and seeing if they spontaneously ascended into alicorns. They decided to stand aside and open the doors. Twilight gave them a sunny smile as she pranced past them. “Thank you, sirs!” † Celestia sat in her bed facing the general direction of her balcony. The curtains were drawn and both the room and her eyes were far too dim to fit the Princess of the Sun. Hooves clopped on the marble floors. Celestia knew that they could only belong to one little filly. Celestia did not wish to rise to greet her most faithful student, but she knew her protegee deserved better after blessing her with years of youthful cheer and enthusiasm. “Twilight,” she said with a practiced tone of gentle authority. “Have you been bullying my guards again?” Twilight didn’t say anything. Celestia lifted her head a bit to see the unicorn filly more clearly. She wondered if she had teased the impressionable little filly a little too hard. She brushed a hoof through her limp mane as she did. Twilight was standing midway between the door and Celestia’s bed. She looked stricken. She also looked much too big to be called a filly. That’s right, Celestia remembered distantly. Her faithful student had grown up. “Twilight?” Celestia asked. The royal tone had slipped away. Genuine concern replaced it, the emotion muted but real. “Are you alright?” Twilight started. “Yes, yes Princess, everything is fine,” she said. The words came out in a rush. A more alert Celestia or any other pony who was paying attention would have inferred that everything was in fact not alright. Celestia took the statement at face value and settled back down into her pillows. “Good, that’s good,” Celestia said, her voice half a whisper. Twilight waited for her to ask another question. She did not. “So!” Twilight said in a tone of forced cheer. “Did you read my research proposal?” Celestia sluggishly searched her memories. Twilight had sent her some sort of report or paper or book draft again. “No,” Celestia admitted. “Not yet.” Twilight’s shoulders slumped. Shame forced Celestia to add, “Not all of it. I’m sure it’s as good as all of your work.” Twilight blinked rapidly as she changed the subject. “It’s just, I need you to approve some paperwork so I can finish preparing the Summer Sun Celebration for this year.” Twilight pulled some sheets of paper out of her lab coat and offered them to her teacher. “The part about detaching Captain Shining Armor and an escort from here to the Ponyville area,” she said helpfully. “Ah yes. Ponyville,” Celestia said listlessly. “The Everfree. Lu—” Celestia forced herself to focus. Her horn glowed with a gentle light and a complex symbol appeared on the bottom of the papers where her signature was required. She looked at her student blearily. “Is there anything else, Twilight?” Twilight trembled. She composed herself and said, “No, Princess. I look forward to reporting my findings to you.” With that Twilight ran out of the royal bedchambers with tears in her eyes. Celestia did not watch her go. † “I’m just saying,” shouted Shining Armor over the rush of the wind. “You need to follow regulations when seeking an audience with the Princess.” Twilight made a rude noise as the chariot touched down. The two armored pegasi who had brought them saluted as their passengers disembarked. Twilight ignored them. Shining Armor returned the gesture smartly as he followed after his sister. “I’m being serious, Twily. Those procedures exist for a reason. Once my guards get in the habit of ignoring them for you that compromises palace security.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Oh please. Who else could take advantage of that even if they wanted to?” “What if some sort of shapeshifting bug creatures with mind control powers impersonated you to ambush Princess Celestia, replace her and seize control of Equestria?” Shining Armor countered. “That’s dumb!” Twilight shot back. “There’s no such thing as changelings!” Shining looked uncomfortable. “Actually, I was talking to Cadance and—” Twilight cut him off with a snort. “Is this like when she used to tell me about the terrible moaning ghost that haunted your room every time she stayed the night?” Twilight asked sarcastically. Shining Armor’s cheeks turned red. He stopped talking. “Besides, “Twilight continued. “You know that if I went through proper channels I’d never get to see her.” Twilight’s ears drooped. “The Princess never wants to see anypony lately,” she said quietly. “Least of all me.” “Twily, you know that’s not—” Shining Armor began awkwardly. Shining Armor was cut off when he realized he was about to walk into an aggressively pink earth pony. “Oh, sorry ma’am,” Shining Armor began. He was cut off yet again when the pink pony inhaled a huge breath, leapt straight up in the air and then vanished so quickly both unicorns could have sworn it was teleportation. They stared after the stranger. “Well, that was weird,” Twilight said. “Eyup,” said a passing stallion. Twilight and Shining Armor looked at the speaker. It was a large red earth pony. “Oh, hello!” Twilight said brightly. “Do you know where the Golden Oaks Library is?” “Eyup,” the earth pony replied. Twilight waited for him to elaborate. He did not. She smiled awkwardly. “Would you be willing to tell us where?” she asked. “Eyup.” More silence. Twilight’s next question came out tinged with annoyance. “Is that the only word you know how to say?” “Nope.” Frustration began to charge Twilight’s sarcasm generator to full power. Before she could say more a new voice cut in. “Big Macintosh, stop teasing that there filly and answer her question.” Twilight turned to see an earth pony mare with a long blonde mane, a battered Stetson and a big smile walk up from behind the stallion. “Sorry bout that,” she said. “Big Mac’s usually a right serious pony, but give him a straight line like that and he’ll run with it every time.” “I see,” Twilight said. She did not actually see the joke, but Twilight had learned at an early age to pretend otherwise in these situations. The earth pony offered her hoof in greeting. “Name’s Applejack. Reckon you’re new to these here parts.” Twilight stared at the proffered hoof as if unsure what she was supposed to do with it. Shining Armor extended his own forehoof and bumped it firmly. Applejack raised an eyebrow and gave Shining Armor an appreciative look. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said, clearly impressed. “Likewise,” Shining Armor said with a disarming smile. “I’m Shining Armor and this is my sister Twilight Sparkle. Twily is in town on royal business and—oww!” Twilight jumped in as her brother rubbed his shoulder where she had smacked him. “Yes, and we’re very busy, so if you could just point us toward the library we’ll be on our way.” Applejack blinked. “Well sure thing, sugar cube. Just head past the market there and turn right. Library’s built into a tree. Can’t miss it.” Twilight beamed at the influx of new information. “Thank you so much!” So saying Twilight trotted off. Shining Armor followed at an awkward pace. “Enjoy yer stay, and hope to see y’all again!” Applejack called after them. “We at Sweet Apple Acres sure do love making new friends!” Neither unicorn answered. Applejack and Big Macintosh watched them go. “Reckon we’ll be gettin’ an invite from Pinkie Pie soon,” Applejack remarked. “Eyup,” Big Macintosh agreed. † “She seemed nice,” Shining Armor commented after catching up to his sister. “Uh-huh,” Twilight replied. She was clearly not paying attention. “So…” Shining Armor began. He knew that trying to distract his sister when she was like this was probably futile, but he had to make the attempt. “Do you think—” Something blue and moving very fast smashed into Shining Armor from above. There was a huge whumpf of impact and the next thing he knew Shining Armor was on his back in the mud dazed and staring into a pair of magenta eyes from a couple inches away. Being knocked half-senseless wasn’t enough to stop Shining Armor from coming up fighting. Training took over. He wrapped a foreleg around his attacker and rolled hard to the left. There was an aborted “Hey!” and a moment later their positions were reversed. The magenta eyes narrowed in anger as the stranger bucked awkwardly beneath him. He adjusted his weight to keep her pinned under him and took a hard right hoof to the chin for his trouble. The blow knocked him far enough off balance that the other pony managed to slip out from under him and roll out of reach before he could react. Training kicked in again. Shining Armor focused magic through his horn and threw up a round purple shield just in time to intercept a rear hooves buck that would have sent him flying into another zip code. Instead the attack bounced off his forcefield. A few concentric rings of light rippled through it as the spell nullified the impact. Shining Armor took the opportunity to regain his hooves and take his first good look at his opponent. An athletic looking pegasus mare with a rainbow mane was bouncing on her hind legs in front of him and punching the air with her forehooves. “Oh, so you want a fight, huh?” she shouted. “Well bring it!” Shining Armor sighed and lowered his forcefield. “So you were the one who crashed into me. Who—” The instant the purple shield was gone the mare darted in and sucker punched Shining Armor in the face with a quick left jab. It wasn’t enough to put him down but it was definitely effective in cutting him off. And it hurt. He tried again. “Listen, I—oww!” The mare continued to bob and weave. Shining Armor sighed, took a step back and grabbed her tail with his magic when she rushed in for another blow. She jerked to a halt right in front of his face, just inches out of hoof range. “Hey!” she shouted. “Lemme go!” Shining Armor glared at her. “Featherbrain, I was just minding my own business when you slammed into me. I thought you were attacking me and I reacted. Can we please stop this?” That finally seemed to get through the angry mare’s skull. She stopped straining against his telekinetic grip and looked a little sheepish. “Oh, yeah. Right” she said, running a hoof through her mane as she did. “Sorry. Uh, could you maybe let me down?” Shining Armor let go of her tail. He remained wary in case she came at him again. Instead she landed a few feet away from the mud slick. She looked at it, then back up at Shining Armor and his mud splattered coat. “Yeah, uh… guess I sort of overdid it,” she said. Embarrassment had started to set in. “See, I was practicing this wicked new stunt and…” She trailed off. “Wow,” she finished lamely. “Yeah,” Shining Armor said deadpan. “Wow.” The mare shrugged. The cockiness flowed back into her. “Eh, whatever. You know how much most colts would pay to roll around with the Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow Dash struck a pose. Shining Armor looked annoyed. “The Rainbow Dash?” she reiterated after an uncomfortable pause. “Won the Best Young Flier competition in Cloudsdale? Set an academy record qualifying for the Wonderbolts Reserve?” “I’m still wondering how much these colts paid you,” Shining Armor said. A glob of mud fell off his mane. “Oh, a lot,” Rainbow Dash said airily. She puffed out her chest as she did. “And worth every bi—HEY!” Shining Armor smirked as he turned around. “Let’s go, Twily. Hope this library has a working shower...Twily?” His sister was gone. Shining Armor was scanning for her when a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see a heavy rain cloud hanging just a few feet above him. Rainbow Dash’s scratchy voice issued from it. “Need a shower, huh? Here, lemme help you with that.” With that she started to hop up and down on the cloud. Pegasus magic hit the cloud and produced an instant downpour. Shining Armor tried to move out from under it, but his hooves slipped on the suddenly slick ground and he fell. Hard. Rainbow Dash landed next to him. “Heh, oops. You alright?” † Twilight sighed in relief as she took over her saddlebags and laid them next to the desk of the library’s cozy second floor bedroom. Shining Armor had vanished somewhere along the way, but for once Twilight was happy her BBBFF wasn’t around. She levitated a book and a small wooden box out of her saddlebags, placed them on the desk and opened the book to a familiar bookmark. “On the longest day of the thousandth year the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal,” Twilight read aloud. Twilight looked at the cutie mark on her flank before opening the box and inspecting the specially prepared gems inside. Two of them already glowed with an amber and magenta light. She smiled. Then she turned to stare out the window into the bright afternoon sky. “For you, Princess,” she whispered. “I’m going to make you happy again.” † Rarity didn’t look up from her work as Carousel Boutique’s door chimes rang. “Just a minute!” she sang. “I’m in the zone, as it were.” A coltish voice answered, “Hey, uh, Rarity, right? Got a pony who needs some help here.” Rarity sighed and turned to see a pegasus she recognized from around town supporting an incredibly handsome stallion with a soaking wet coat that showed off every line of his superb physique. Rarity fainted on the spot. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Oh, super.” Author's Note Thanks to the wise and generous SFaccountant for supporting this.
Chapter 2“Thanks again for looking at my leg,” Shining Armor said as he finally finished limping to the Golden Oak Library. “What did you say your name was again?” The pretty yellow pegasus beside him blushed and ducked behind her long pink mane. She mumbled something indistinct. “What was that?” Shining Armor asked. “Her name is Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash explained from the other side and a few feet up. The annoying pegasus had thus far resisted all attempts to get her to go away. “She gets like this around strangers. Don’t worry about it.” Shining Armor shrugged and knocked on the door. He waited for a response. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Dude, it’s a library. You don’t have to knock. Haven’t you ever been to one?” “Have you?” Shining Armor grumbled. Rainbow Dash started to say something, stopped and then fell silent. Shining Armor smirked as he opened the door and walked in. The interior of the library was pitch black. “Twily?” Shining Armor called out. “Hey Rainbow Dash, where’s the—” Suddenly the lights came on and a familiar voice shouted, “SURPRISE!” “Meep!” Fluttershy squeaked. “Ugh, not her again,” Rainbow Dash muttered. The pink menace struck. "Hi there!" the pink pony from before said perkily. She had popped beside Shining Armor as he walked into the party streamer filled library. "Were you surprised?! Were you, huh, were you?" “Very surprised!” Shining Armor said. He scanned the ponies milling about the room. “Nopony told me there was going to be a party.” “Well duh!” Pinkie Pie said with a roll of her eyes. “What kind of surprise party would it be if somepony told you about it?!” Pinkie Pie hopped alongside Shining Armor as he navigated the room. “When I saw you and your sister earlier I didn't know you, and if I didn't know you that meant that you were new, because I know everypony, and I mean EVERYPONY in Ponyville! And if you were new that meant—” “Twily!” Shining Armor interrupted. Can you tell me where she is? Pinkie Pie waved a hoof at the stairs. “Oh, she said something about how libraries are supposed to ‘be quiet’ and barricaded herself upstairs. I mean sheesh, what kind of party would it be if it were quiet? Anyway, she has some sort of redirect ward set up in the bedroom so I was hoping you could go talk to her before I have to break out my Party Cannon.” Pinkie Pie fluttered her eyelashes as she said that last bit. “Right,” Shining Armor said as they neared the stairwell. He stopped as multiple things about that diatribe registered. “Wait, what? Ward? Party Cannon? And how did you know she was my sister?” Pinkie Pie waved a hoof in front of herself as if inspecting its polish. “Oh, Pinkamina has her ways,” she said coolly. The manic energy had suddenly vanished. “Pinkamina has her ways.” With that she shoved a cup full of something at Shining Armor and gave him a flank bump toward the stairs before bouncing off. Shining Armor tried to process what had just happened. Then he gave up and started up the stairs. † “Hey Twily?” Shining Armor said as he rounded the top of the stairs. “You there?” “Mhmm,” Twilight said. Shining Armor recognized that tone and was not surprised to see his sister seated at a small desk surrounded by books and papers. A candle floated in the air nearby, its wick burning cheerily. Apparently Twilight had run out of space to set it down. “Sorry I got separated from you,” Shining Armor said once it became clear that no further questions would be forthcoming. “This really annoying pony bumped into me and, well…” He waved his injured foreleg gingerly. “Sprained my leg,” he finished lamely. No response. Twilight continued scribbling notes for whatever she was working on. “I'm fine though!” Shining Armor said. He fought down his annoyance. He knew trying to draw his sister out was probably a lost cause, but he had to try. “There was this nice filly named Fluttershy who was kind enough to take a look at it, and she says—” Twilight looked up at that. “Shining! You're hurt!” Shining Armor resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Yes, thank you for noticing. She's downstairs now. Did you know there's a party going on?” Twilight smiled. Shining Armor couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her do that. It looked different from her normal smile and Shining Armor wasn't sure how to react to it. His sister kept on speaking. “Well then, we should definitely go thank her,” Twilight said briskly. She stowed something into her saddlebags and walked toward the stairs. “Lead the way, B.B.B.F.F!” As Shining Armor started down the stairs Twilight bumped into him. He lurched forward and tumbled down the stairs.” Twilight shouted, “Shining!” and followed him down. Her voice was concerned, but she was still smiling. Something glowed pink inside her saddlebags. † “That’s the second party you’ve ruined this week,” Shining Armor groused. He was dressed in full Royal Guard ensemble. The gold armor hid most of his bruises and made him cautiously optimistic about not picking up any new ones. His sister stood next to him in formal robes. She waved a dismissive hoof. “Having an unscheduled party like that was a safety hazard. And Moondancer will get over it.” “Everypony was enjoying themselves!” Shining Armor protested. “And everypony can enjoy themselves again when Pink...something, gets the proper permits,” Twilight said firmly. Pinkie Pie popped up out of thin air right next to Twilight. “Actually I filed all the paperwork at Town Hall ahead of time!” she perked. She produced a sheaf of forms from her mane as proof. “Gah!” Twilight said. Shining Armor snickered at his sister’s reaction. Pinkie Pie joined in with a giggle fit of her own. Twilight glowered and levitated the pink menace off the stage. Something in her pocket glowed blue. Shining Armor knew his sister well enough to be cautious about unexplained magical glows. “Twily?” he asked. “What was that?” Twilight opened her mouth but was cut off by trumpets from the balcony above. “Ladies and gentlecolts,” said a silver maned pony in a cravat. “It is my great pleasure to…” Twilight spoke in a strained whisper as the local politician speechified. “Shining!” she hissed. Shining Armor turned to regard his sister. “Yeah?” “Shining, I need you to answer an important question. Do you trust me?” Shining Armor frowned. His sister sounded desperate, even scared. His answer came as reflex, as if he was saying the sun was bright. “Yes Twily, I absolutely trust you. No matter what.” Twilight smiled. A tear fell down the side of her face. “Thank you, B.B.B.F.F.” As Mayor Mayor finished welcoming the good and wise Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle lowered her head and blasted her brother with magic at point blank range. It hit him square in the chest. The force of the blow sent him flying up to land in a heap on the balcony above at Princess Celestia’s hooves just as his monarch stepped out to greet the crowd. Dead silence reigned. Everypony except for Shining Armor looked at Twilight. Shining Armor was too busy looking at the tiny Rainbow Dashes flying circles around his head. “Aha!” Twilight said in a forced laugh. She continued in a flat monotone, clearly reciting a prepared speech. “At long last my treacherous plan has come to fruition and my ascension is nigh! I have overthrown your pitiful Guard Celestia, and now I claim my throne as the new queen of Equestria!” Nopony was sure how to react to that. “Twilight, what are you doing?” Celestia said. Twilight’s heart skipped a beat. She stammered for a response. A multi color flash from inside her robes snapped her back to her senses. “The plan,” she whispered to herself as she levitated five glowing crystalline charms of her own design out of her robes. They began to orbit around her, fast and bright. “By friendships broken and trust betrayed I conjure you!” Twilight shouted. “By harmony disrupted I shatter your chains! Let the stars aid in your escape! Nightmare Moon, I bid you come forth!” The glowing crystals had continued to swirl around Twilight in a colorful blur as she spoke the incantation. When she said the name of the villain who haunted every foal in Equestria’s darkest dreams they stopped abruptly. The light vanished as they turned jet black. They hovered quivering in place for a long moment before shooting up like bullets. They smashed through the ceiling of the decrepit town hall without slowing down. Plaster and dust rained down behind them. Princess Celestia’s eyes were wide now. “Twilight, what did you just do?” she asked, very softly. Twilight beamed. She started to say something but before she could a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane came hurtling toward her with evident mayhem in mind, Twilight reached out with her magic and telekinetically grabbed the angry mare by the tail and jerked her to a stop. She hung there helplessly, struggling and shouting. “Well well well,” purred a new voice. “Isn’t this a surprise?” A cold wind swept the room, extinguishing lanterns and drawing shivers from the crowd. An alicorn as black as a forest night stepped out of the darkest corner. She gave Celestia a hateful glare before favoring Twilight with a raised eyebrow. “To think that somepony still remembers me after a thousand years and loves me enough to summon me back,” Nightmare Moon continued. “Well done, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight started to shout another rehearsed line but stopped short. Whatever she had expected Nightmare Moon to say, that hadn’t been it. “You know my name?” she asked cautiously. Nightmare Moon smiled. A tendril of her starry mane reached over the caress the bottom of Twilight’s muzzle. “But of course! My sister has had some truly awful dreams about you.” “Luna,” Celestia said with quiet authority. “Get away from her.” Nightmare Moon’s head snapped up to glare balefully at her sister. “There is no Luna!” she bellowed. “Equestria has but one princess now!” The two alicorns locked stares. The air positively hummed with tension as they gathered their powers. Nightmare Moon was completely focused on her arch nemesis. That realization brought Twilight back to her senses. Her eyes blazed with dark magic as she struck. It wasn’t a blast of magical force or destructive energies. Twilight attacked Equestria’s boogymare with a spell she had adapted from a very old book written by Celestia’s own quill and hidden away in a very secure chamber in the caverns beneath Canterlot. Originally it had let the caster divest herself of her magic and transfer it to another pony. Now it did the opposite. Nightmare Moon started to turn as the spell hit her. A contemptuous smile was already forming as she prepared to brush aside whatever feeble magic the mortal unicorn was throwing at her. That smile turned into an agonized rictus as the draining spell struck home and simply ripped away a part of the magic that made her an alicorn. Her body bowed in pain and her coat flickered from black to blue for a heartbeat as dark, dark lines crackled out from her and into her attacker. Twilight’s eyes had gone solid white, the black aura of the forbidden spell burning around them in an inverted corona. She channeled more and more magic into the attack, more than she ever had before. Somepony screamed and neither of them could tell if it was Twilight Sparkle or Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon had never been in such pain before. She found that she did not like it. In fact, it terrified her. Details about the situation spun and rotated through the part of her mind that was still able to think straight. The mental math clicked and the alicorn realized why this was happening. With a last, desperate effort she tore up a heavy part of the stage and hurled it at Celestia with all the force she could muster. Twilight’s focus broke as she registered the threat to her teacher. “Princess!” she cried. Her spell faltered as she reflexively reached out to snatch the makeshift missile out of the air with her magic. Nightmare Moon donkey kicked Twilight with her remaining magical strength. There was a whoomph of impact and the little pony was sent flying. Nightmare Moon staggered back herself. Her legs trembled as she struggled to remain standing. Her barding had been mostly torn away during the fight. As she looked herself over her draconic eyes widened at the sight of her cutie mark fading in and out of visibility. “Y—You little foal!” she gasped. Nightmare Moon’s form blurred and turned into a cloud of sparkling motes as she gathered what was left of her power. She flew up and out through the damaged ceiling. “No!” Twilight shouted over the sound of panicking ponies. There was a lavender flash and then she too was gone.
Chapter 3“Oh my goodness, I think he’s waking up!” said a soft voice from somewhere above Shining Armor. “Everypony stand back and let him get some air,” somepony else cautioned. Applejack, he realized. Shining Armor rubbed his head and groaned as he opened his eyes. He wasn’t in town hall anymore. A quick look around told him that he was back in the library. A library which appeared to be spinning around and wobbling. Shining Armor winced and closed his eyes again. “What happened?” he croaked. “That’s what we were hoping you could tell us, darling.” Shining Armor opened his eyes to see the unicorn from before looking down at him. She blushed prettily but managed not to fall into a swoon this time. “Yeah!” shouted the annoying pegasus. She touched down next to him and glared at him from well inside his personal space. “What did your sister do to our princess?!” That jerked Shining Armor back to reality. “Twilight!” he shouted. He sat up, smacking Rainbow Dash in the face as he did. She sputtered in outrage and started to respond in kind. Applejack grabbed her by the tail and dragged her away before violence could ensue. “Now simmer down Sally,” Applejack said through a mouthful of multicolored hair. “He wouldn’t have gotten all banged up like that if he had known what was going to happen.” Rainbow Dash stopped struggling. Applejack spat her tail out. She turned and looked Shining Armor square in the eye. “But I reckon he can help us figure out exactly what’s going on.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash filled Shining Armor in on what he had missed. Pinkie Pie pantomimed the more theatrical parts. Shining Armor’s head swam as he took it all in. “I knew Twily had been acting odd lately,” he muttered. “I thought it was just stress from organizing things and worrying about the princess.” Rarity lifted an eyebrow. “Worried about the princess?’ As in Princess Celestia?” Shining Armor nodded gingerly. “Why ever would that be?” Rarity pushed. “Ooh!” Pinkie Pie said. “Has she been sick? Or sad? Or out of cake? Or—” “Yes,” Shining Armor said. “Oh no, Princess Celestia is out of cake?!” Pinkie Pie gasped. She was clearly horrified. “No...I mean yes...I mean...oww.” Fluttershy crouched down next to him and held a damp cloth against his throbbing forehead. “Try not to move too quickly,” she said. The beautiful pegasus had the sweetest little voice. Shining Armor couldn’t help relaxing slightly. After the dizziness subsided Shining Armor spoke again. “My sister is Princess Celestia’s personal student. For the past year, maybe more, the princess has been in a deep depression. She’s withdrawn from official duties and as near as anypony can tell she has secluded herself in her private chambers. Every pony in a position to know about this has been concerned, but my sister…” Shining Armor grimaced again. This time it wasn’t from the headache. “Twilight has always been close to the princess. She took it hard.” “Ya don’t say,” Applejack snarked. “You have to know her,” Shining Armor explained. “When Twilight gets fixated on solving something nothing distracts her until she’s done it. When she can’t find a solution…She can get a little crazy,” Applejack raised an eyebrow at that. Rarity arched an eyebrow at Applejack and mouthed the word ‘stubborn.’ Applejack gave Rarity an annoyed look. Rainbow Dash ignored them both. “Yeah yeah, but what does that have to do with an old mare’s tale like Nightmare Moon?” Fluttershy shuddered. “The princess called her ‘Luna.” “Yes,” Rarity said thoughtfully. “And whoever she was she said something about her sister having bad dreams about this Twilight Sparkle.” “So what does that all mean?” Rainbow Dash demanded. “Maybe Nightmare Moon is Princess Celestia’s long-lost sister!” Pinkie Pie chimed in. Applejack sighed. “Pinkamina Diane Pie, we’re being serious here.” “The princess,” Shining Armor interjected. “Where is she?” “Took off after the whole fracas,” Applejack supplied. “Said something about protecting the Elements of Harmony.” Shining Armor blinked. “I know that name. Twily said something about them not long ago.” “Yeah?” Rainbow Dash asked. “What are they?” “No idea,” Shining Armor admitted. Everypony except Pinkie Pie sagged at that. “The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide,” Pinkie Pie said. Everypony looked to see Pinkie Pie pulling a book off the shelf. “However did you find that?” Rarity asked. “It was under E!” Pinkie Pie sang as she hopped over to a table. The others crowded around as Pinkie Pie laid the book open on the table and began to read from it. Afterward Shining Armor frowned in thought. “Most powerful magic known to ponykind, huh?” he said. “Least til your sister found out about it,” Applejack said drily. “So that must be where Princess Celestia went, right?” Rainbow Dash said. “To get these Element things and use them to put Nightmare Moon away again?” “Maybe,” Shining Armor said. “And if we figured it out Nightmare Moon probably has too. She’ll want to get to them first to head the princess off.” “And, uhm, your sister was chasing after Nightmare Moon,” Fluttershy pointed out. Shining Armor nodded. The dizziness was fading. “And that means that if I want to find Twily I need to find these Elements of Harmony.” Rainbow Dash surprised him by bumping his shoulder with her hoof. “We need to find them, you mean.” Shining Armor looked at Rainbow Dash in surprise. She shrugged. “Can’t let you go alone when you’re all beaten up. So...where are they?” “Whelp,” Applejack said. “Good news is the book says ya don’t need to go far.” “Seriously?” Shining Armor said. There had to be a catch. “Yup,” Applejack said. “They were last seen in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.” Shining Armor frowned. “Never heard of it.” Applejack winced. “Well, it’s in…” † “...The Everfree Forest is supposed to be a lot less blown up than this,” Shining Armor commented to Applejack as they picked their way over the rubble of what had been a fair-sized ridge. “Reckon we know which way they headed,” Applejack said as she hopped ahead to get off a chunk of stone that had started to slide underneath her. She grunted slightly and checked her hat once she was back on relatively secure footing. “So, uh, your sister. She’s really that powerful? Never woulda figured such a little pony could do…” Applejack waved a hoof at the wreckage. “All this.” “Yeah, Twily’s always been a prodigy,” Shining Armor said. He flicked his horn and brushed some sharp looking rocks away from the next chunk of stone. “The princess made Twily her personal student the day she got her cutie mark.” Applejack hopped to another level patch. “Oh? How’d that shake out?” “Hatched a dragon. Blew up a building. Turned our parents into potted plants,” Shining Armor said. Applejack froze. “Seriously?” Shining Armor nodded. “Yup.” Applejack whistled. “Land’s sakes.” “They got better,” Shining Armor added. Applejack relaxed a bit. “Oh, okay then. Was concerned for a sec there.” Shining Armor banged his already injured leg and winced. “Yeah, I think the princess took her on as much to teach her how not to do that again as anything else.” Applejack looked around and whistled. “And here Ah thought Apple Bloom and her two friends were a walking disaster zone.” She saw Shining Armor’s expression and grimaced. “Sorry. Didn’t mean…” “I know,” he said shortly. He chuckled bitterly. “Some big brother and Captain of the Royal Guard I turned out to be.” “Hey now,” Applejack said. “I didn’t see this coming when it was my duty twice over. I got knocked senseless when the princess was in probably more danger than any other time since the Guard was formed. And for all I know Twily is—” “Hey!” Applejack said. She jumped onto the same chunk of rock as Shining Armor, grabbed his shoulder and forced him to turn and look at her. She locked eyes with him. “Now you listen here. Ah don’t know you or your sister or the princess for that matter, but a blind fruit bat could see how much you love your little sister. You wouldn’t be walking through the Everfree at night all beat up like this if you weren’t a good big brother or a good guard pony. Ah may not rightly understand everything that’s going on here, but Ah know you’re going to be there for your sister come what may, cus Ah’m going to make sure you get there. Understand me?” Shining Armor’s eyes teared up and he started to sway a bit. Applejack held him up firmly but gently. “Thank you.” “S’nothing but the honest truth,” she said. They had made their way across the rubble. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were already waiting. Rainbow Dash was hovering with her hooves on her flanks. “Come on you guys,” she said testily. “Rarity, how you coming along back there?” Applejack called back. “Just a minute!” Rarity huffed. Applejack rolled her eyes. “Ah swear, if you’re looking for diamonds or making sculptures or something Ah will…” While the two bickered Shining Armor scanned the area. The forest resumed a couple dozen feet ahead. There were no conveniently leveled trees to point the way. He frowned as he tried to remember the not very good map they’d found in the library. “Something isn’t right here,” said a quiet voice from right behind him. “The animals are all scared,” Shining Armor nearly jumped out of his coat. “Fluttershy!” he shouted. That pony was too quiet by half. Fluttershy cringed away so much her belly was nearly touching the ground. “Oh, I’m sorry.” Shining Armor shook his head. “It’s alright. What do you mean not right?” “The animals are all scared. I can hear them nearby, but they’re hiding,” she said. “Well, sounds like they have better sense than us,” Shining Armor said. Fluttershy’s ears tilted back in alarm. Shining Armor mentally kicked himself. “I’m sorry, I mean…” “It’s okay,” she said. “How is your leg?” “My leg?” Shining Armor said? “Oh, it’s fine. Still sore but I can walk on it fine.” Rarity had rejoined them by this point. They made their way into the woods. After about five minutes they found themselves staring into the muzzle of an angry manticore. The magical super predator roared in rage at them. Shining Armor instinctively threw up a shield over the group before it could pounce. It remained there, crouched and menacing. “Okay everypony,” Shining Armor said. “Let’s just circle around it. Don’t make any sudden moves and don’t run. If we don’t set it off then maybe...Fluttershy?” The pretty pegasus had slipped around his shield and was fluttering toward the manticore. The monster roared again, and the force of the sound plastering her mane back. Everypony shouted in alarm. The gestalt of their protests was that getting near the carnivorous beast was a bad idea. Fluttershy ignored them all. She moved her muzzle close to one of the manticore’s big paws and whispered something. The manticore looked confused and held its paw out for inspection. Fluttershy gasped. “Oh dear!” she said. And without a moment’s hesitation she pulled a nasty looking stone splinter out of the manticore’s paw. The manticore roared in pain and seized Fluttershy with its free paw. Everypony tensed to spring forward, knowing it was too late. Fluttershy...giggled. “Aww, you’re just a big old kitty!” she said as the giant creature licked her mane and face. Once it settled down she reached into her bag and pulled out a roll of bandages. “Now I need you to hold still for just a second…” Once she had finished cleaning and bandaging the injury she nuzzled the manticore one last time and turned to her companions. Shining Armor’s jaw was hanging open. “Fluttershy, that was amazing!” he said. “But that was a crazy risk.” Fluttershy smiled. “Everypony deserves some kindness when they’re hurt.” She paused, then added, “Oh, and he says that he got hurt by an angry-looking pony who was chasing a cloud of smoke. I asked and he said he could show us the way.” Shining Armor was dumbfounded. “...How?” Fluttershy smiled again. “I asked nicely.”
Chapter 4When they finally reached the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters it was surrounded by a giant dome of purple magic. As clues went that seemed like a pretty good one. “Twily’s in there,” Shining Armor said. He sounded certain. The other ponies looked impressed. Even Rainbow Dash. “Sweet Celestia,” said Rarity. She levitated a rock and tossed it at the forcefield. The light rippled and the rock ricocheted back into the forest like a shot. “An’ you’re sure it’s her doin’ this and not Nightmare Moon?” Applejack asked. Shining Armor nodded. “I taught her this spell.” Everypony cocked an eyebrow at that. Shining Armor resisted the urge to blush. “Alright everypony,” he began. “Thank you for all your help. I’m not asking you to go in there with—” “Yeah yeah,” Rainbow Dash said impatiently. “Didn’t we already do this song and dance?” “Indeed,” Rarity said firmly. “We are not leaving you to deal with…” she shuddered. “...This alone.” The others chimed in with the same sentiment. Even Fluttershy from atop her manticore, though its rumble mostly drowned her out. Fluttershy patted the big cat thing to thank it for speaking on her behalf. Rainbow Dash spared her friend an annoyed look. “She has no idea how awesome she looks right now,” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself. Shining Armor wiped the corner of his eye. “Thanks girls. Now then.” Shining Armor faced the magical forcefield. His horn began to glow the same color. “I’m going to open a way in. Once you see an opening, hurry. It won’t last long.” With that he fired a burst of magic from his horn. A section of the shield about ten feet across began to twist and unspool where it hit. Rainbow Dash was the first one through and the rest scampered after her. Fluttershy took up the rear. Her manticore plucked Shining Armor up with its tail as they passed and hauled him in before the forcefield snapped shut again. “Good boy!” Fluttershy said. She scratched the manticore behind the ear and it purred loud enough to drown out the other ponies gasping for breath. “Seriously, not a clue,” Rainbow Dash said. She was blushing for some reason. Applejack made a mental note to tease her rival about it later. Once they were past the shield the ponies heard the sound of battle from further inside. They raced through the crumbling palace with Shining Armor in the lead, hurdling debris and ducking through partially collapsed doorways until they found themselves inside a large room on one of the upper floors. It reminded Shining Armor of the throne room in Canterlot. The similarity was pushed out of his mind when he saw his sister on the far side of the chamber. She was shaking and exhausted, but her horn glowed bright enough to keep the center of the room lit. A white form lay sprawled on the floor behind her. Princess Celestia. Shining Armor began to speak. A voice from the shadows pre-empted him. “You are a such a strange little pony, Twilight Sparkle,” said Nightmare Moon. She sounded amused. “First you free Celestia’s greatest enemy and now you risk your life to protect her.” Something flickered behind a pillar. Twilight blasted it into dust. Mocking laughter filled the room. “Curiouser and curiouser,” Nightmare Moon teased. “What madness drove you to summon and challenge me? Was it pride?” A tendril of shadow snaked around half of a broken statue and whipped it at Twilight. Twilight barely managed to deflect it in time to avoid being crushed. Shining Armor’s eyes went wide as he realized his sister was afraid to dodge for fear of leaving the princess vulnerable. “Part of her has always been afraid of what you can do,” Nightmare Moon continued. Her tone was almost conversational. “Did you know that? Her dreams where you betrayed her were just exquisitely dark. Though even she never thought you would reverse engineer Tirek’s magic draining spell. Kudos for exceeding expectations.” Twilight glared as she tried to spot her adversary. Her eyes widened as she saw her brother, then narrowed as she began to formulate a plan. “And what about you, ‘Luna?” Twilight shot back. “Does she dream about you crying because nopony liked you?” Another masonry missile came flying out of the dark. Twilight parried it easily this time. Her voice turned mocking. “She wants you back more than anything, you know. Can’t imagine why, but she does.” That struck a nerve. Nightmare Moon came swooping out of the shadows straight at Twilight. Twilight feigned panic, looking like she was going to flee or throw up a shield...then grabbed Celestia with her magic and threw her across the room just before the black alicorn smashed into her. Shining Armor grabbed his monarch with his magic. He grunted with the effort until Rainbow Dash flew up to help. Together they lowered her to the ground. Shining Armor raised his shield spell again just as Nightmare Moon turned her gaze on them. “How—” she said before Twilight slugged her in the side of the head. The midnight alicorn snarled and bared her fangs. She was inches from biting down on Twilight’s throat when the magic draining spell connected again. “No more hiding behind other ponies this time!” Twilight shouted triumphantly as magic poured out of Nightmare Moon and into her like water falling from a pitcher. Nightmare Moon’s starry mane flattened into simple blue hair as dark power arced between them. Thunder boomed and the alicorn was sent flying after her sister. She landed in a sprawl, sliding to a stop a few inches away from Shining Armor. The imposing figure of Nightmare Moon was gone, replaced by a smaller alicorn with a dark blue coat. Celestia’s eyes fluttered open. “Luna?” she whispered. “What in the hay just happened?” Applejack asked, speaking for everypony. “I’m giving the princess her sister back,” Twilight Sparkle said matter of factly. Everypony looked back up at her and gasped. The same sparkling cloud of magic that had surrounded Nightmare Moon was swirling around Twilight now. As they watched it settled at her sides, taking the form of a pair of starry wings. Her eyes glowed and shifted, taking on the draconic appearance of her vanquished foe. “Twily?” Shining Armor asked hesitantly. He dropped his shield. “Are you alright?” His sister responded with a too wide grin that sparked uncomfortable memories of the one and only time she had been late with her homework. “Alright?! Of course I’m alright! I’ve never been better! I just did what we’ve been trying to do all this time?” Shining Armor gulped. “...Beat Nightmare Moon?” Twilight’s new wings flapped once. The gesture was enough to create a gust of wind that cleared the dust and debris from that side of the room. Shining Armor coughed and closed his eyes. “Make the princess happy again, of course!” Twilight said in that too manic tone. Something shifted behind Shining Armor. He looked back to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack helping the princess to her hooves. “Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said. Weakened and woozy, her voice still thrummed with authority. “What have you done?” Twilight froze, looking very much like a filly who had been caught doing something she knew she wasn’t supposed to. She flicked her ears and pawed at the ground nervously. “You were so sad,” Twilight said. The crazy had drained out of her voice. “I tried everything I could think of, but nothing worked. So I started researching the problem. I found old texts about the origins of the Mare in the Moon legend. I remembered you saying the name Luna and I put the pieces together. I thought...if I could take her magic away, weaken her enough that she couldn’t fight you…” Twilight gulped. “Then you could talk to her and have your sister back.” Celestia had regained her hooves while Twilight spoke, though she still leaned on Applejack for support. She took one step, two steps, then she was standing over her sister. “Twilight, I—” The blue alicorn cut her off with a wad of spit to the face. “It was always about you,” Luna hissed. Twilight’s eyes flared. “HOW DARE YOU?!” she boomed in a voice that rattled stone. Her horn flared and a lance of violet magic streaked at Luna. “YOU NEVER DESERVED HER!” Celestia lurched away from Applejack and in front of her sister. Twilight’s attack battered aside her attempt to parry it and struck her square on the horn. She crumpled. Twilight screamed at the sight of her beloved teacher stricken. “You!” she snarled at Luna. Literal smoke came out of her nostrils as she snorted like a bull. “You did that!” Shining Armor caught his liege as she fell. “The Elements of Harmony,” Celestia gasped. “You have to use them to—” Celestia’s eyes rolled back into her head. She fainted. Shining Armor looked from his ruler to her sister to his sister and made a tactical decision. He plopped Celestia in front of Fluttershy on the manticore, slung Luna over his own back, turned and fled. “Everypony run!” Most of them didn’t need to be told. Rainbow Dash was a beat slower, but once Twilight started spamming death rays in that direction she decided to accede to Shining Armor’s command experience. The ponies tore out of the throne room and raced pell-mell through the castle, an extremely angry newborn alicorn in hot pursuit. “Applejack!” Shining Armor said as they stumbled into an antechamber. “Any idea what these Elements of Harmony look like?” “Not a clue,” Applejack admitted. “Ooh, do you think they’re a bunch of big round stones with magic-y symbols carved into them?” Pinkie Pie suggested. “Why ever would you say…” Rarity began, then sighed. “...You’re looking at them right now, aren’t you?” Indeed, Pinkie Pie was standing in front of a large decoration in the middle of the room. An inscription at the bottom read “The Elements of Harmony.” “Okay, so...what do we do with them?” Rainbow Dash asked. “...I don’t know,” Shining Armor admitted. He could hear Twilight smashing her way closer. “Applejack?” “Do Ah look like an unicorn?” Applejack snapped. “Fluttershy, any luck with the princess?” Fluttershy had laid Princess Celestia out on the stone floor and was examining her. She shook her head. Princess Celestia was out cold. Shining Armor cursed. Luna groaned on top of his back. “Arrange the Elements of Harmony in a circle,” she slurred. “Best if she walks in the middle.” “Why the hay should we believe a word you say?” Rainbow Dash demanded. Luna smirked. “Because my flank is first on the chopping block if I lie.” Hard to argue with that. Shining Armor didn’t try. He started levitating the Elements down and motioned for Rainbow Dash to help. “Okay, then what?” † Twilight came barging in to see her brother standing next to a prone Princess Luna. She marched in slowly, magic swirling around her ready to repel any ambush. “Twily,” Shining Armor said in that tone of voice you use with crazy people. “You don’t have to do this.” “THERE IS NO TWILIGHT!” she boomed. “THERE IS ONLY MIDNIGHT SPARKLE!” Dark alicorn magic was one hell of a drug. Shining Armor lowered his head and cast the spell Luna had described.”Right. This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.” Magic jumped and crackled like electricity from one Element of Harmony to the next, forming a circle around Twilight. Twilight looked down in alarm. The magic sizzled and popped, grew brighter...then died out. Twilight looked at her brother. She laughed hysterically and lashed out with her magic. All five of the Elements of Harmony shattered. Luna groaned in resignation. Twilight’s eyes fixed back onto her quarry. Shining Armor decided the situation had just officially become hopeless. And that was when he felt a hoof on his shoulder. He looked back to see Rarity standing next to him. The other girls were arrayed behind him. And suddenly he understood. “You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony that easily?” he told his sister. “You’re wrong. Because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!” Something began to shift around Twilight’s hooves. The newbie alicorn looked nervous. “Rarity, who went out into the Everfree Forest at night to help a pony she barely even knew represents the Element of Generosity!” A glowing bit of crystal leapt up and flew over to hover in front of Rarity. Shining Armor kept talking. “Applejack, who comforted me when I was in doubt represents the Element of Honesty!” Another flare of light, this one amber. “Rainbow Dash, who wouldn’t abandon a companion no matter what the peril represents the Element of Loyalty!” There was coruscation of light in every color of the rainbow. “Fluttershy, who showed us the way forward by taking the time to help a wounded manticore represents the Element of Kindness!” Fluttershy squeaked as she was levitated up and forward. A choker with a pink gem shaped like a butterfly appeared on her neck. “And Pinkie Pie, who laughed in the face of danger and kept our spirits alive when the night was darkest represents the Element of Laughter!” The light was getting brighter now, melding into something Twilight had to shield her eyes against. She hissed.“But I broke the seal! The Elements of Harmony are gone!” “You’re wrong Twily,” Shining Armor said. His voice was gentle. “Because together the Elements of Harmony represent something you’ve always needed more than anything else. You’ve spent your entire life learning to control Magic, but friendship is what makes it all complete!” A crown with a gem bearing an eerie resemblance to Twilight’s cutie mark materialized in the air above Shining Armor. He bowed as it set down on his head. It glowed in unison with the necklaces around the necks of the other five ponies. Shining Armor’s eyes turned white and with a rush of arcane power a giant double rainbow burst up from the six ponies. It twisted upward in a double helix before slamming down onto Twilight, smashing past her magical defenses and ripping away the dark power she had stolen. When everypony’s eyesight recovered, ‘Midnight Sparkle’ was gone and Twilight was laying in a heap. † “Well Ah’ll be,” Applejack said bemusedly. “And here Ah thought you were spouting a lot of hooey Shining Armor, but Ah reckon we do represent the Elements of Harmony.” “Indeed you do,” came an ethereal voice. The ponies turned to see Princess Celestia back on her hooves and smiling down benevolently at them. The five mares bowed while Shining Armor stiffened and threw a sharp salute. The manticore took that as a cue to run away. “I failed to see the signs of what my faithful student had planned,” Princess Celestia continued. “The power of the Elements of Harmony is one that no amount of study or practice can harness. Only by allowing true friendship into your heart can they be reborn. Now if only another will as well.” Princess Celestia looked down at her sister. “Princess Luna,” she said gently. “It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. We were meant to rule together, little sister. Will you accept my friendship?” Princess Luna trembled as she rose to her hooves again. From the looks of it she was considering another spitwad. Then her eyes turned moist and she rushed forward. Shining Armor tensed as the other alicorn’s horn came perilously close to his ruler’s chest and throat, but the lost princess only hugged her sister. “I missed you so much, big sister,” Princess Luna sobbed. “I missed you too Luna,” Princess Celestia replied with equal emotion. Rocks slid and hooves scraped the floor as Twilight Sparkle stirred. Both alicorns turned to look at her. The little unicorn flinched as she saw their gazes. “I, I’m so sorry,” she stammered. “I never meant—” “Hold, Twilight Sparkle,” Princess Luna said. Royal authority was already returning to her voice. Twilight fell silent and cringed. “As We understand it you undid the seal imprisoning us on Our moon in hopes of reuniting us with Our sister,” Luna continued. Twilight nodded. Luna held Twilight’s gaze before looking back to her sister. “While her judgment may have been lacking, Twilight Sparkle’s affection for you cannot be denied. We are in no position to condemn another for decisions born of an excess of despair.” Celestia’s face was unreadable. “Twilight Sparkle,” she said. Twilight flinched again. “Step forward.” Twilight did so. She was clearly terrified. “I’m, I’m so, I didn’t mean—” Celestia cut her student off by grabbing her with both forelegs and pulling her in for a tight hug. Twilight automatically hugged her back. “You have brought light back into my world, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia whispered. Luna caught Twilight’s eye. “Enemies though we may have been, we both love my sister. Let that common ground be our foundation from this moment on.” Celestia reached over with one fluffy wing and pulled her sister into the hug. Pinkie Pie broke down sobbing with joy. “Hey,” she said to the mares standing next to her. “Do you know what this calls for?” Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack sighed as she finished with, “A party!” Once the group hug was over Shining Armor cleared his throat. “Princess Celestia?” She looked at him. “Yes, Captain Shining Armor?” “Requesting permission to collapse unconscious.” Princess Celestia smiled. “Permission granted.
