Luna Sky

Chapters

Epilogue: Our future
Prologue: To the Moon
Chapter 1: The second Equestria
Chapter 2: One day, we will come back....
Chapter 3: One thing leads to the other
Chapter 4: ....and it will all come to an end

Epilogue: Our future

Midnight Darkess and Early Light were celebrating their victory. They made it. They saved Equestria! All this made it even harder for them to realize what was going on. The gun of the machine suddenly began to glow in a dark blue, stronger and stronger until a long, wide beam left it. It hit Equestria with merciless power right in Canterlot, covering the whole sky with dark, everlasting night.

They did not know for how long they sat there, unable to grasp what just happend. In the end, they failed. Everything they had done turned out to be done in vain.
"Wha....What shall we do now?" Early Light asked crying.
"Well, there are still other ponies....." Midnight Darkness respondet, being not less emotional.

A few minutes later, everyone on the moonbase was still confused. In the beginning it was put about that the fleet would take of the defeat the tyrant, but they haven't heard anything now for hours. Not from the fleet nor the princess herself. All ponies came together in the hangar as suddenly a spaceship entered it.

As it landed, two stallions stepped out. Everyone was curious. "Are you soldiers?" "What happend?" "Where is the princess?"
But everyone went quiet as Midnight darkness raised his hoof.
"Ponies! It makes me sad to tell you, that there are no more princesses! And it makes me even more sad to tell you that our homeland Equestria has been overlaid with everlasting night, so nopony will ever be able to live there again!"
Some ponies began to whisper, and some even began to cry. After a short break, Midnight Darkness continued his speech.
"But we still have a future, and for this kind of future it does not matter where we are! And I and my friend here will tell you about it!" He pointed his hoof at the position where Early Light stood before, but he wasn't there anymore. In this moment, Early Light entered the room again, now looking just like he had looked as he left Equestria.
"Look at me! I just had to take this de-Nightbringer I found in the laboratory of this doctor!"
He walked into the hangar, getting strange looks from all the ponies there.
Suddenly, a female pony stepped out of the group.
"Did you just call this pony a....friend?" She said.
"Looks like there is a lot we have to teach you." Midnight Darkness responded.

Prologue: To the Moon

Prologue:To the moon

It had been a long and hard fight. But she finally did it. Celestia send her sister with a loud BANG to the moon. She sighed and set down. She didn't like to do it, but there was obivously no other option. If she would have let her get away with this little claim, what would have been next?
"Changing roles for one day, pff. Probably she would have wanted to rule together with me next. Hahaha, too funny to even imagine." Celestia said.
But apparently, there were still quite a lot of supporters of her left in all of Equestria.
"I better...get her some company. I can't risk that any ponies queries my rule over Equestria", Celestia thought by herself.

"Everything I wanted were some friends..." Luna sight as she looked around the wide, open surface of the moon.
"But you, my dear sister, will not get away with this! I swear you I will come back and take revenge!"

Luna screamed and jumped around as suddenly, with a BANG another pony appeard behind her. And another. And another. After ten minutes, there were ponies all over the moon, as far as Luna could see. Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. This was her chance to fulfill her oath!

"What did just happen, your majesty?" A pony asked as she approached Luna.
"My sister made did the biggest mistake in her life." Luna said with an small, evil smile.
"COME ON, MY SUBJECTS, WE HAVE WORK TO DO!" She said with her royal Canterlot voice, for all ponies on the moon to hear.
"MY SISTER SHALL REGRET THE DAY SHE BANISHED ALL OF US TO THIS PLACE!"
All the ponies on the moon began to cheer and began to scream "Praise Luna!".
"I beginn to like this," Luna said "But enough of this! I got some plans we have to work on..."

200 years later, Canterlot

It was a nice, sunny summer day when princess Celestia sended for Early Light and 3 other soldiers of the royal guard.
"Good morning, my faithful soldiers." The princess said.
"Good morning, your highness."The soldiers answered.
"I got a special mission for you and it may be dangerous, but I'm certain you will accoplish it without any trouble."
"Whatever you want, your highness!" The soldiers said.
"Great! Well then, follow me."
The princess led the soldiers through half of the castle while she instructed them.
"As you may know, I sent my sister to the moon two hundred years ago. She is very smart and once she has taken something in her head, you hardly can stop her from doing it. What I want you to do is to look if she is planning something. I can't risk her to revolt against me twice. Did you get everything so far?"
"Yes, I think we got it" Early Light answered. Early Light was nopony special, just another white pegasi guard of the princess. He came out of a guard-family and as far he could think, every stallion of his family served as royal guard. His cutie mark showed a raising sun, wich basically symbolized his ability to look over things again and again, like the sun did every morning.
"Very well. But this not everything. You will get a special suit. The magical energy of the gems on this suit will allow you to break through magical barrier I set up around the moon when you want to come back."

With these words, Celestia opened a hidden door and led the guards into a room wich contained 4 suits wich all were gemmed with deep red gems.
"These are dragonblood rubys. Of all gems out there they contain the most magical energy." Celestia said.
"If you are ready, please put on the suits. If anyone of you has any doubts or fears, he may pronounce them now."
Nopony said a word.
"All right then, please put on the suits."

The soldiers putted on the suits and with a loud BANG, all of them were gone as Celestia send them to the moon.

Everything was dark as Early Light first looked around. After blinking twice, he saw the bleak, grey surface of the moon, as empty and wide as you would expect it.
"Doesn't look like Luna did anythin special here." One of the guards said.
"Well, maybe not here, but we should look around." Another aswered.
"That's right, we should split and bring this behind us as fast as we can."

So everyone went his way. Luckily, all of the suits had an implemented communication system, so the guards could communicate with each other. But apparently there was nothing worth to speak about, so the guards basically told each other jokes to kill time. After ten minutes suddenly something happend.

"...and than the butterfly said to the ladybug...OH MY GOODNESS!"
"Hey, that one was not really funny!"
"Shut up, that wasn't what I meant. Let's meet at my positon as fast as you can, you got to see this, otherwise you will not belive me."
"If you say so..."

Fifteen minutes later, all got together.

"Ok, follow me." The guard said. Early Light and the two others followed.
"Now look at this!"

Everyone gasped as they saw a gigant mining complex with big tanks on wich the words "Moonlight Saphires" were written.

"Now look at this. Looks like Luna has been pretty bussy in the last two houndred years." One of the guards commented.
"Ok, let's get out of here, we have to report the princess!" Early Light said.

In this moment, three unicorns in dark uniforms and glowing horns approched the group.
The guards all frozed, exept one...

"Oh, hey there, we come in pea..."

The guard couldn't finish the sentence before a beam of magical energy from on of the unicorns hit him and struck him down. Before the guards could react, two others of them were hit by magical energy and fell down. It took Early Light a few seconds the realize that he was the only survivor. He tried to run away, but then he recognized that the unicorns weren't shooting at him. As he looked back, he stumbled over a stone and fell to the ground.
It took him a few seconds to come fully back to reality, and he found himself surrounded by the unicorns.

"P-Please don't kill me, I got a family(he didn't), do whatever you want, but don't kill me!" Said Early Light as he beged for his live.
"We don't intent to kill you, prisoner." One of the unicorns, wich seemed to be the leader, flatly answered.
"Thank you, thank you so mu...what did you say?"
"You are a prisoner now, but if you prefer to be killed, I'm sure I can arrange that....."
"Nonononono, I didn't meant it that way..."
"Wonderful" The unicorn said, and hitted Early Light in the face with her hoof.

Everything went black again.

Chapter 1: The second Equestria

When Early Light finally became conscious, he found himself in a really big hall. The hall had the form of a circle, had a diameter of a half mile and was so high that Early Light couldn't see the top of it. In the walls were holes and in each hole was a weird circular machine, wich Early Light never saw before in his life. The walls were grey, with blue flags on them wich showed a crescent moon on a very dark blue background.

"Look who finally came back to us!" A unpleasant familar voice said "I almost thought I killed you."

Early Light looked up and saw into the eyes of a light blue mare with a black mane and scary yellow eyes. Her cutie mark showed a couple of stars in the night. Besides her stood a black stallion with grey hair and green eyes. At first Early Light thought he hadn't got a cutie mark, wich seemed quite odd to him, at least was the stalion probably in his age. But as he looked closer, he saw there was a spot on his flank wich was even darker than the rest of his fur. For som reason, this seemed to be his cutie mark.
There were also a couple of other ponies (Or unicorns, to be exact).
But Early Light had no time to look at them particulary, because a loudspeaker began to play a song and suddenly, three ponies flew into the hall. Two of them were dark pegasi, but the third one, in the middle, puzzeld Early Light. It looked like it was a pegasus with a...horn(?).
Suddenly, all unicorns around Early Light knocked thier hindhooves together, raised their left forehooves and shouted:
"PRAISE LUNA" (Wich was offically known as the "Luna salute")

At this point, early Light realized that he was about to meet the fallen princess herself.
The princess and her escort landed on the ground. The princess looked just like on the old pictures of her, exept that she wore a black uniform with silver strings and a couple of medals. Furthermore she wore a black officer head with the crescent moon on the front of it wich you also could see on the flags. Without answering the greeting, she went to the unicorn wich caught Early Light.

"WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US, FIRST SERGANT DAWING NIGHT? The princess asked with a voice that boggled Early Light.
"A spy from Equestria, your highness. At first they were a group of four. We acted just like you wanted us to: We eliminated three of them and brought you the last one." The unicorn wich hitted Early Light answered.
"VERY WELL FIRST SERGANT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?"
"Well, in fact, yes. All of them wore special suits with deep red gems on them, wich I never saw before on the moon."

As Dawning Night said these words, Lunas eyes suddenly began to shine.

"She is really becoming uncareful, but she will see what she gets from it" the princess said, this time in a way more silent tone.
"VERY WELL MADE, SERGANT MAJOR DAWNING NIGHT, YOU AND SERGANT FIRST CLASS MIDNIGHT DARKNESS MAY LEAD OUR PRISONER TO THE DOCTOR NOW. AND DAWNING NIGHT, YOU WILL MEET ME AT THE ABENDDÄMMERUNG ONCE YOU BROUGHT OUR PRISONER AWAY!"
With these words, the princess flew away.

Dawning Night didn't lose any time.
"Get up prisoner, you heard the princess! Midnight Darkness, you may watch that our guest does not take the wrong way when I'm not watching him." The unicorn said to the other unicorn that Early Light also could run his eye over.
"At your command, sir." Midnight Darkness responded.

And so Early Light walked through the gigantic complex, Dawning Night in front of him, Midnight Darkness behind him. After ten minutes of walking they arrived at a door with the title: "Office for Equestrian matters".
After they opened the door they walked into a bigger room with some doors with were labled with "Inteview room 1-4"

"Good morning, doctor." Dawning Night said to a older grey pony with white hair, wich apparently seemed a little confused.
"Wha...., ahh good morning Frist Sergant."
"Sergant Major." Dawning Night answered.
"What? Oh, I'm so puzzled, I'm really sorry for that. But as I can see, you brought me some work. Or better to say, somepony to work with!" He giggled at his own so called "joke".
"Well, yes. It seems that this is a spy from Equestria and the princess wants you to give him the standart fare."
"That we never used before!" The docor giggled again.
"Exactly. Well, good luck with him, I'm expected elsewhere." Dawning Night said and left the room.
"Well then, let's don't loose any time. Midnight, could you please help me with our guest? Please bring him in Interview room number one."
"Of course, uncle." Midnight Darkness said, grapped early Light and pulled him into "Interview room 1". There he pushed him onto a not very comfortable chair, left the room and locked the door.
"So, who are you?" The doctor asked cia a inter phone.
"Who wants to know that?" Early Light answered.
"Somepony who has a nephew who will use other methods to make you talk if you don't do it now!"
"I'm Early Light."
"I see we understand. Well then, Early Light, welcome to the second Equestria! As you may know, 200 years ago princess Celestia send Moon Princess Luna to this place. Apparently, she send all her loyalists with her and so we...."

The doctor was just about to start a lecture about pretty much everything wich was on the moon, as Midnight Darkness interrupted him.

"Shouldn't you be asking him some questions, uncle?"
"Oh, yes of course, I just wanted to be kind to our guest, at least he has to stay here for a while." The doctor giggled again.
"So, what's your mission?"

Meanwhile, Luna stood together with Dawning Night on a platform, looking around the surface of the moon. On the left side was the base of her and her subjects (Wich also had the form of a crescent moon), and on the right side was a tremendous, circular something, wich apparently was nothing less than the bigest weapon ever made by ponykind.
"Impressed?" She asked Dawning Night.
"Yes, I heard some storys about this machine, but I never expected it to be so big!"
"This is the Abenddämmerung. It has always been my top priority." Luna explained. "It will make my sister pay for everything she did to me and bring everlasting night over Equestria! Apparently, all the years there was something wich was left. Something with enough magical power to raise this machine to the sky. That's why I want you to be here. The gems wich you described are Dragonblood rubys. They are probably the gems with the most magical energy you can find in all of Equestria and I'm very certain they will bring this machine up in the sky! And I just thought you would like to see the result of what you managed to do."
"I'm honored, your highness! But if you allow two questions, why did you choose this name for it and where is it from?" Dawning Night answered.
"It's a word from a old language wich apparently isn't spoken anymore. It means dawning night, but in my opinion Abenddämmerung sounds more impressive."
"I agree, your highness." Dawning Night said.
"Well then, let's don't lose any more time." The princess said, and started to walk into the machine, followed by Dawning Night.
They walked through a big corridor until they arrived at a gigantic elevator. In the elevator where buttons for a lot of a lot of different "levels".
One was called "Engine room". Luna pressed the button. After a one minute ride, the doors opened and they walked into a gigantic hall, filled with weird machines up until the roof. Dawning Night could hardly imagine how this machine was supposed to work, on the other hoof this was nothing of her business.
The two mares walked into the middle of the hall where they were already expected by a lot of other ponies. One of them, probably a scientist, at least he looked like this, went out of the group to welcome them. At first all made the Luna salute, then the scientist began to talk.
"Hello, you highness, we were already expecting you. Not that I mean that you are too late and can't spend your time whatever you want it to be like, I...."
"Get to the point, Sparkling Star."
"But of course, your highness. Everything is prepared just as you wanted it, and we are reday to insert the Dragonblood Rubys into the engine. There a "Magical energy extractor", or MEE, will extract the energy out of the gems. Than a...."

After a ten minute lecture about the machine, wich obviously nopony beside the scientist and Luna interested, the scientist started to insert some of the gems into the machine. All lights wich weren't on at this moment truned on and the engine began to rattle as it started and it sounded like the machine moaned, just like you woud moan if somebody awakes you from a very long sleep.
"HAHAHAHAHA, NOW MY SISTER WILL PAY, THE ABENDDÄMMERUNG WILL FLY! THE ABENDDÄMMERUNG WILL...." Princess Luna had just began to shout out her delight as most of the lights turned of again and the engine stopped again.
"WHAT HAPPEND?" She shouted at the scientist.
"I don't know, your highness." He answered, and looked into the extractor. Everything wich was left of the gems he just putted into the machine was a little pile of dust.
"Your highness, I fear we will need more Rubys to run this machine."
"That's no problem, we still have three other suits."
"No, more than that. A lot more."
"Dammit, in the name of every fuckin thing! I was so close!" Luna turned from total anger in one second to deep depression in the other.
"If you excuse, your highness, I think there could be a possiblity." Dawning Night said.
"And that would be...?"
"Well, Celestia wouldn't send this guards here with this suits for no reason, so I think they were supposed to be spies. And if they were spies, there probably also was a way for them to come back. And I think it's quite obvious that these suits have something to do with it. And since we still have three suits left, we can send a small expedition to Equestria and get more gems!"
"You are right! That's brilliant!" Luna said euphoric "Well then, let's get back to our prisoner and see what the doctor has for us, shall we?"
"Whatever you want, your highness."Dawning Night said and both walked back to the elevator.

"Tell me more about this so called "Galloping Gala". " Midnight darkness said to the prisoner.
After his uncle had finished the interview, he had gone out of the room and didn't return yet. And because the prisoner was the only kind of company he had there, he lowered himself to have a little talk with him. Apparently, the stories the prisoners told were quite interesting. Everything he knew about Equestria until then did he read in school books, and they mostly just told you how evil Celestia was, so it was exiting to get some first hand information.
Early Light was just about to tell him, as he heard voices and hoofsteps on the corridor.
"Forget it, and no word about this conversation, or you will regret it, capish?"
The white pegasus simply noded.
Midnight Darkness had just walked out of the interview room as Dawning Night and moon Princess Luna herself entered the room.

He first made the Luna salute, then he turned to the two.
"I'm honored, your highness. Sergant major." he said, not forgetting to put his hoof on his temple as he mentioned the rank of Dawning Night.
"Where is the doctor, sergant first class?" The princess asked.
"He went away, I've no idea where he is, but I can tell you the results of the interview as well."
"Well then, go ahead."
"He indeed as a spy. He and his companions have been send here to look what you are doing. Their suits were made to give them the possiblity to break through the magical barrier wich is around the moon."
"Just as you thought, Dawning Night...." The princess said "Just as you thought...."

A few days later, the princess called Dawning Night, Midnight Darkness and, to the surprise of all, Early Light into the big hall of her moonbase.
"Why did you call us and...him here?" Dawning Night asked.
"Well, we still need the gems, so you and Sergant First class Midnight Darkness will get me some more."
"That figures, but why do we need the prisoner?"
"Well, all of you have never been to Equestria, and since I'm here for two hundred years now I fear that some things may have changed, so he will be your...let's say he will be your guide. For that purpose the doctor was so kind to.... change him a little...."
As she said these words the doctor divulged Early Light, who was enveloped before that for some reason. He looked like one of Lunas former guards, the only thing that still was the same was his cutie mark. Furthermore, he was unconscious.
"Well, I guess we can call him Early Night now" The doctor giggled "I have to admit that I really have outdone myself this time! And don't worry, he will wake up soon. It's just a aftermath of my Nightbringer"
"Really good work indeed doctor. If he makes any problems, feel free to do what ever you need to do." The princess said.
"So, as you can see, a Circular Air Vehicle is alredy prepared for you, it is equipped with the Dragonblood Rubys, so it will break through the barrier without issues."
Dawning Night and Midnight Darkness began to enter the vehicle. Another pony pushed Early Light after them.
"Well then, have a nice flight my faithful soldiers. Oh, and I'm expecting some gems." Luna said to Dawning Night with a wink.

Chapter 2: One day, we will come back....

It had been an incommodius flight, even thought it hadn't been a long one. Dawning Night walked out of the vehicle after they landed. She closed her eyes in pain as in the first time of her life sunbeams touched her.
"Hey, did you forget your sunglasses?" Midnight Darkness asked as he also walked out of the vehicle.
"Ahh" Dawning Night moaned in pain "I think so. Give it to me."
"Of course."

After she putted her sunglases on she opened her eyes. What she saw was stunning. Trees with green leaves and colorful birds, wide green fields, mountains, lakes with fishes inside of them.....
They stood there about one minute just watching the landscape, imbibing all the new impressions.

"Hey guys I don't want to interrupt you, but it is really THAT interesting? I mean I think you still have work to do..." Early Light suddenly said.
"Wha....yes, of course. Midnight, our guide is right, we should get back to our mission." Dawning Night answered.
"But of course. And if you allow this submission, we should find out where exactly we are first."
"That's right. Guide, any suggestions?"
"Unfortunately, I've no idea. Do you expect me to know every place in Equestria?"
"That would be a good start." Dawning Night answered.

Because they had no because they had no other plan, they started looking around. Soonly they found a sign with the titel "Ponyville".
"Looks like we have no other option." Dawning Night said. "However, it seems like night will fall soon. We may should rest here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow."
"That's up to you. If you don't mind, I'll take the guide with me and collect some firewood." Midnight Darkness replied.
"Sounds good to me."

"Why didn't you run away as you could?" Midnight Darkness asked Early Light once they were alone.
"I didn't knew where we were, so it would have been quite risky to run away. Not to mention your deadly spells."
"Seems legit."

They arrived in Ponyville within midday. Effacing themselfes, they counseled about their next steps.
"Well, at first we need to know how we get the gems. I would suggest that we find the pony in this village who has a lot to do with gems and then kidnap it." Dawning Night suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea." Midnight Darkness said.
"I know. But now we have to find out who this pony is. Any suggestions where we should start?"
"Well I think I know who this pony is."
"Then tell me."
"It's Radianty."
"How did you know that?"
"I looked at this poster."

He pointed his hoof at a poster wich was pasted on a wall nearby. It showed a picture of a white unicorn mare with a purple mane, wearing a beautiful, gemmed dress. It said: "Radianty Dresses. Dresses with gems for anypony who want's to be a shining star."

"Well, even though the slongan is not so good, this is definetely the pony we were looking after." Dawning Night said. "Now we need a vehicle. At least this would make the kidnaping a lot easier."
"What's about this wagon over there?" Midnight Darkness said and pointed his hoof at a wooden wagon wich stood on a place, guarded by two guards.
"Yeah, let's take it. Ok, I'll take down the left guard and you take care of the right one. Ready? Three, two..."
"Hey, wait guys, we don't have to spill any blood. At least I'm still a guard. I think I'll be able to solve this."

With these words Early Light walked up to the two guards.

"Did anypony tell him?" Dawning Night asked.
"I fear not." Midnight Darkness replied.

"He guys, how ya doin?" Early Light said to the guards.
"Quite....well...." One of them replied.
"Nice, where are you based?"
"I don't think this is of interest for you."
"But why? I'm a member of the royal guard!"
The both guards frowned.
"What's wrong with you guys, was something in your meal? Won't you give one of your pals an browing?"
He said and advanced his right wing. It was then when he recognized that something was wrong.
He still looked puzzled at his bat-like wing as Midnight Darkness and Dawning Night jumped out of the bush in wich they had been hiding.

With the words "No time for explanations, we need this wagon, follow us and you die." Dawning Night grabed Early Light and sat into the wagon. Midnight Darkness ran to the front side, harnessed himself and rushed off before the guards could do anything. They just stood puzzled on the place and looked at each other.
"Dude"
"Yes"
"This was the most random thing that ever happend to me."
"Me too."
"I suggest this never happend."
"My sentiments exactly!"

It began to dawn as the three set up their trap near Radiantys boutique. Early Light took his oppurtunity and walked to a puddle. He jumped back as he saw what happend to his body. His wings were like the ones of a bat and his whole body was grey.
"What have you guys done to me? Are you insane?"
Before the both could respond anything, Early Light ran away. Dawning Night was on the edge to shoot him, but Midnight darkness stopped her.
"WAIT! I mean, he is not worth the troubble his dead probably will cause. If we want to accomplish our mission, we have to keep knowledge close to the vest."
"Well, you are probably right. I mean, with this look nopony will take him serious."

Meanwhile, in her boutique, Radianty was in despair.
"Not only that my actual drafts are totally under my normal standart, I'm also running out of time! I have a meeting tommorow with the princess! WITH THE FUCKING PRINCESS! What shall I say to her? I'm really sorry your highness, but your dress for the Grand Galloping Gala isn't finished yet. She will send me to the moon. Oh my dear, this will be THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. DAY! Nononono. I'll make this. I just have to take a little walk to get some distraction, then everything will be fine."
She said and walked out of her boutique.

Before she could realize what happend, somepony pulled something over her head and pulled her away. She screamed "What do you think are you doing? Are you from the business competition? Spill it out!" But nopony heard her. Then suddenly something hit her head and everything went black.

As she woke up again, she found herself in a warehouse, probably far away from anypony else.
"Are you Radianty, the gem pony?" A voice suddenly asked.
"Who want's to know that?" She answered.
"I don't think this is any of your interest."
"Oh, Midnight, we should be nice to our guest, I mean at least she should see us before, well you know..."
"Before what? WHO. ARE. YOU?"

Before she could say anything else, Midnight Darkness and Dawning Night stepped out of the shadow they had been hiding in. The fashion ponys eyes began to shine as she saw the two ponys.
"Well, here we are Radianty, or who are you?"
"I'm Radianty indeed."
"Well, we are Midnight Darkness and Dawning Night and we are..."
"Oh darling, I'm not at all interested in what or who you are, but your UNIFORMS! They look fabulous! Where did you get them?"
"Well, ehm, we make them where we come from."
"Oh, I see. Well, if you would allow me to make a dress out of them, I would give you whatever you want!"
"Anything?"
"Yes, anything!"
"Dragonblood rubys?"
"Oh, you come fast to business. But yes, of course."
"I think we have an arrangement."
"Perfect! Well, if you would be so nice to release me, we could go to my boutique and get started."
"But of course. Midnight, if you would be so nice....."

At the next day, nopony less than Princess Celestia herself came to Ponyville, to see her new dress.
"I knew you had to wait long for your new dress, your highness, but I'm very certain you will be statisfied with the results."
"I hope so. At least this is the Grand Galloping Gala. If I don't look good I don't even want to think of how my subjects will think of me. At least I don't want to send them all to the moon for having a bad opinion of me." The princess began to laugh and Radianty joined her, more forced than actually delighted.
"So, here is what you have been waiting for your highness: Your new dress!"

With these words she divulged a mannequin, wich wore a white uniform with golden epaulettes, various medals and a white officer hat.
"And, what do you think, your highness?"
"Well, it looks a bit.....autocratic...."
"Oh nonono, this is the new style, belive me! All modern regents wear such cloths!"
"Well, now you say it, I actually have to admit that I like it. It kinda suits my personality. I'll take it."
"Wonderful!"

After the princess went out, Dawning Night and Midnight Darkness entered the room.
"So, Radianty, we did our job, now it's up to you."
"Of course, darling." Radianty said. With a glow of magic she lifted a small bag up in the air."Here you go, twenty Dragonblood rubys."
"TWENTY! Are you kidding?"
"Of course not. First: You never said HOW MUCH rubys you wanted. Second: These things are really expensive. Twenty of them have the worth of at least half of the dress I made."
"I see....Well, I think we have a problem here because we need more of them. Urgend."Dawning Night said with a dangerously silent voice.
"Hey, what's the matter? I thought we were friends! Anyway, if you would kill me now or do whatever you want, that wouldn't benefit you in any way. Only I know where the gems here are and I will take good care not to tell you. That doesn't mean that it has to end here and now. If you want more rubys, well, earn them."
"So you are offering us jobs?"
"Yes, indeed. We would be really successful all together! All the ponies will remember our dress store! I alreday got a name:"Radiantys, " ehmmm, what were your names again?"
"Our names do not matter. Neither do we. We would prefer to stay in the background."
"So you are accept my offer?"

Dawning Night and Midnight Darkness looked at each other. Both of their eyes said the same thing.
"I guess we have no other choice."

Chapter 3: One thing leads to the other

"Can you belive we finally will see Canterlot?" Midnight Darkness asked Dawning Night.
"Since when have you been so emotional? I think this whole Equestria love and toleration bla bla bla is going to your head." She answered.

It had been five months now since they decided to work together with Radianty. It mostly had been the same things all the time. Thinking about new designs, deciding about materials and so on. From time to time they had the opportunity to visit a fashion show, but mostly they refused it because Dawning Night decided that they had to be unconspicious. At all, they didn't went out a lot, only when they had to, wich didn't delight Midnight Darkness. He wanted to see about what Early Light told him, anyway it was his job to destroy all those things. At least their business was rather successful. The dresses sold like hot cakes and they alredy amassed a lot of gems. Because of this, the oganizers of the "Pony fashion week" invited Radianty to show some of her dresses. Also at this Dawning Night tried to refuse Radiantys request to come with her, but this time she hadn't been succesful.

"Oh darling, just say you have never ben there before." Radianty said.
"No, I haven't." Midnight Darkness answered.
"Oh, you will love it! You see, I was born in Ponyville, but I'm a Canterlot pony at heart...."

The rest of the train ride was filled with Radianty talking about Canterlot, wich made Midnight Darkness even more curious. Several hours later they arrived at Canterlot central station. It all was even better than Midnight Darkness expected.
Everything was so.... well, new. As they walked through the streets Midnight Darkness kept looking around to imbibe all those impressions. He did not mind the looks the Canterlot ponies gave him. As they entered a place wich was surrounded by skyscrapers, he stopped in awe. But as he looked around again, Radianty and Dawning Night were gone. But then he saw something he never thougt would be possible.
A grey pony with batwings stood on the edge of the road, holdig a sign wich said: "Beware of the Luna loyalists". Furthermore, he shoued things like "Look what they have done to me!" and "They are preparing a invasion!", but it seemed like nopony took him serious.
Because he had no better idea what to do, he walked the pony. As the other pony recognized him, he began to shout.
"Look at him! He is one of them!"
Midnight Darkness didn't mind it and kept walking.
"Hey, there haven't seen you for a long time, how are you...." Midnight Darkness tried to begin a conversation, but before he could end his sentence Early Light grabbed him and continued to shout.
"HE IS PART OF THE PLOT!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"HE WANTS TO KILL US ALL!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Before the situation could escalate two guard ponies came by to stop the riot.
"Gentlecolts, we really don't want to interrupt you, but your argument disturbs some other ponies." One of the guards said.
"Fine." Midnight Darkness answered.
"I would like to report this pony." Early Light said.
"And for what?"
"For plotting."
"WHAT?"
"And why do you think this pony is forming a plot?"
"Well, this might sound crazy, but you have to belive me! You see, they are on the moon and have a gigantic base there and...."
"Stop stop stop. First of all, this does sound crazy and second, I don't belive a word."
"But you have to! I'm very certain they are planning a invasion!"
"Sure. Have a nice day." With these words the guards walked away.

After the guards had walked away, the both began to talk again.
"So, I didn't expect to see you here. At all, I didn't expect to see you again anyway." Midnidght Darkness started.
"Too bad." Early Light responded.
"Hey, why are you so unfriendly?"
"WHY I AM SO UNFRIENDLY?! Have you ever looked at me? With this look, nopony takes me serious, even worse, they don't recognize me as who I am! After I ran away from you, I made my way back to Canterlot and you can believe me this wasn't easy. Then I wanted to go to the princess to report her about you, but they didn't let me in! They called me a busybody and that they don't belive me! Can you even think what this means? YOU DESTROYED MY WHOLE LIFE!"
"Did I destroy your life? Do you think this was ever MY plan?"

After this conversation, both were quiet for a while and walked through the town. Suddenly, Midnight Darkness saw a poster at the front of a cinema and had an idea.
"Hey, why don't we watch this movie?"
"Wich one?"
"The mare in the moon."
"But that's a movie for little children."
"No matter what the audience is supposed to be, it will still show you why we are here. Actually, I'm kinda surprised you have this movie here."
"Well, what ever, as long as you pay the popcorn."

One hour later, after the movie ended, Early Light and a disillusioned Midnight Darkness walked out of the cinema.

"I don't understand...." Midnight Darkness said. "I don't know it that way! What if it all was.....lies?!"
"Guess this movie brought another point of view to you?" Early Light replied.
"It sure did. I guess I HAVE to apologize for what all happend, even though it wasn't my fault. But now we have to find the others! I'm sure Dawning Night will be interested in this. You don't coincidentally know where the Pony fashion week takes place?"

Meanwhile, at the Pony fashion week, Midnight Darkness hugged herself with pleasure. Everything had been just perfect! Not only that this fashion week had been a great success, she finally got enough rubys! But she had also to admit that, even though she didn't show it, her priorities had changed a little. Making dresses was much more fun that she expected and she had become quite close with Radianty. Not that she would call it a friendship or even more, but it was a good collegial relationship, wich apparently was a quite deep relationship after her standarts.
"Maybe..." she thought "I should continue this business a little. I mean, more rubys can't do any harm and furthermore this is quite fun, and who can blame me for having fun? Well, as long as he doesn't know what's going on."
She giggled at her own joke as Radianty entered the fitting room dawning Night had been in.
"Oh, here you are darling, I've searched everywhere for you!"
"Well, luckily you found me."
"Well then, I think we should touch glasses on this great success."
"Absolutely!" Dawning Night endorsed as she raised a bottle of champange with her magic.

Three glases later they came back to business.
"So, about the clors for the new collection, I think we should choose a dark purple." Dawning Night said.
"Purple darling? I would prefer red!"
"Why red?"
"It's the color of love!"

Before anything obnoxious could even happen, the whole room shaked as Midnight Darkness and to the surprise of all, Early Light, entered the room. The scenery couldn't have been more awkward. While early Light had no idea what was going on, Midnight Darkness had the unpleasant feeling that he interrupted something.....privat. Radiantys eyes literally said "You'll regret this!", while Dawning Nights eyes said "Get me out of here!".
After a time of awkward silence, Radianty began to talk.

"Oh.....eh, darling, what are you doing here? And who is...this?"
"Hello Radianty, why do you look so...frustrated? Was the fashion show not a success? But where are my manners: This is, or to be honest, used to be Early Light."
"Well then, nice to meet you Early Light, but say, what do you mean by used to be?"
"It's hard to explain." Dawning Night suddenly said.
"And from where do you know him?"
"It's a long story." Midnight Darkness said.
"Yes, it is, but now we have to go, we still got some work to do...." Dawning Night added.
"Well then, see you." Radianty said puzzled as the two other ponies left the room.

As the three ponies were out of Radiantys earshot, they began to talk.
"Where have you been? Where did you find him? What are you doing here anyway? And what...." Midnight Darkness stopped her quick as she began to drown him in a lake of questions.
"Wait a second, ok? Instead of you, I'm interested in this city, so I took myself the liberty to look around a little. But apparently it seemed like you two weren't sharing my interest and furthermore completely forgot about me. Anyway, as we entered a place I just wanted to look around a little, but apparently you just kept walking. Just as I thought "Man, now I'm fucked", I saw Early Light. We had a little talk and we watched a movie."
"Wait a second, you did WHAT?"
"Yes, we watched a movie and that's the point. Look, those things, about they told us all the time in our childhood, did you always thought they were true?"
"Why.....yes, of course I did."
"Didn't you ever thought they may could be......lies?"
"What do you mean by that? I don't understand what you.....Oh my...."
"What?"
"You became one of them!"
"No!...... I mean, it's hard to explain, believe me! We don't have to do this without thinking over it!"
"Please tell me you don't believe in their lies!"
"I do! The reason why we are here...., look, I don't know exactly why we are here, but it's not for Equestrias good, I'm sure about that, and if you want to continue with your plan, I'll stop you!"

The two former....well, they weren't actually friends, more fellows, stood towards each other, magical energy around their horns, ready to shoot. Midnight Darkness was just about to shoot, as Dawning Night teleported behind him and knocked him out with her hoof.
Before she teleported herself away she said "Noone of you can stop me now!". And then she was gone.

Chapter 4: ....and it will all come to an end

"Well done, sergant major. With these gems, it's decided."
Luna had never been happier in her life before. Or at least in the past two hundret years.
She turned to fleet commander.
"ADMIRAL, MAKE THE FLEET READY! WE WANT EVERYPONY ON HIS POSITIONS IN FORTY MINUTES! NOW SHE WILL REGRET IT! AFTER TWO HUNDRET YEARS, WE FINALLY STRICKE BACK!"
"Of course, your highness. I'll give command to execute order twenty-two."
"Fine."
The admiral turned away, and began to brief the noncommissioned officers. Meanwhile, Dawning Night turned away as well, but Luna stopped her.
"You, wait a second. At least it was your work wich made all this possible. I would like to have you on board with me when I make my sister pay."
"I would be honored, your highness."

Meanwhile, Midnight Darkness awoke with a terrible headache.
"Ohhh, my head. What happend?"
"You got hit by this....other pony and then she disappeard. But hurry now, we have to inform the princess!" A familiar voice answered. As Midnight Darkness turned his head up, he looked into the eyes of Early Light.
"What....I mean, are you sure about that?"
"Of course. Whatever it is they need this gems for, it will cause trouble. She is the only person who now can help us!"
"Hmm, guess you are right. But let me ask you one question : Why didn't you just leave me here?"
"Because that's what friends do."
"Friends? Sounds good to me."

Twenty minutes later, Early Light and Midnight Darkness desperately tried to get into the royal castel of Canterlot to speak to the princess.
"But you have to let us in! It's important!"
"Sorry, but the princess doesn't have time for you!"
"But we all will die!"
"Yeah, right."
"You have to believe us!"
"Doesn't look like I'm about to."
"Really, you have to beleive us, we will all die if you don't let us in!"
"Look, I've to deal with crazy people like you all day, at least that's my job. So if you won't go away now I'll....."

Before he could finish his sentence, a lady-like voice interrupted him.
"Oh darling, don't you want to listen to what those people want to say you?"
"Well, actually no...."
"Couldn't you make an exception?"
"Actually not..."
"Oh darling pleeeaaasssseeee." Said Radianty while making a pout. Her plan worked, the guard just couldn't stand it.
"Well, if it's so important....But I dare you, it better should be important because if it isn't I....Hey!" The guard said as the three ponies passed him without paying attention.

"Ah, it's so beautiful out here, just like nothing ever happend, happens and will happen. Man, I love it when I sound sophisticated. At least a little."
Princess Celestia thought as she was doing her usual evening walk in the royal garden, as she suddenly heard fast hoofsteps coming closer. Before she knew what happend, three ponies stood in front of her, talking all over the place so that she could barely could understand a word. So, she stopped them by raising her hoof. Once all of them were quiet she took herself the time to look over them. Soon she recognized Radianty and began to talk to her.

"Dear Radianty, tell me, who are your friends why are you disturbing my evening walk? I hope for you that it better is important!"
"Of corse I will, your highness! Well, this Early Light and Midnight Darkness. The reason why we are here is....well, I don't actually know, but I'm very certain that they can tell you!"

The princess wary looked at the two ponies, as she remembered.
"Wait a second, the name Early Light is familiar to me! Weren't you one of the guys that I send to the moon for this scouting mission?"
"Yes, indeed your highness."
"Oh, well then. Sorry for what happend, I could not anticipate it. I mean I am mighty and that whole stuff, but I'm not that mighty."
"However, look your highness, there is something we really have to tell you!" Midnight Darkness said.
"Well, if you have to, but make it quick."

Midnight Darkness told princess Celestia the whole story in an accelerated procedure.

"Well, I see. But don't have fear my subjects, I already have plans! Wait here for a few seconds, ok?"
With these words the princess teleported herself away, just to reappear a few seconds later.
"If you would like now to follow me into the castle."

Ten minutes later, all of them stood on a big balcony of the castle.

"Excuse me, your highness, but I still don't see the point in standing here while Luna is threatening Equestria." Radianty said.
"Just wait and......see!"
With these words, several gigantic holes opened up in the royal garden. Armed spaceships flew out of these holes, heading to the moon. All of the ponies stood on the balcony with their mouths wide open. Only the princess giggled.
"Gotcha Luna. Again."
Then she turned to the others.
"Well, thank you. I think I'll be able to handle this on my own from now on. Have a nice day."
"But...your highness, what do mean by...."
"You can go now. Oh, and Radianty, thanks for the dress again. It was just perfect."

So the three ponies walked out of the castle. As they were in the royal gardens were still spaceships were starting, Midnight Darkness began to talk.
"I don't know...."
"Don't know what? Early Light asked.
"Well, those gems were Dragonblood Rubys. Those are gems with a lot of magical energy. For what ever Luna needs them, I fear princess Celestia underestimates its power."
"So what's your plan?"
"We should get a spaceship and check out if everything is alright. Just to be sure."
"Well, if you think so....."

Suddenly, Radianty cleared her throat.
"Execuse me, gentlecolts, but I think my job here is more than done. Sorry, but this is a battle you have to fight on your own."
"If you think so. Thanks anyway, you really helped us!"
"You are welcome."

Five minutes later, Midnight Daekness flew into the hangar, riding on Early Lights back. They landed in the hangar and went right to a spaceship. Suddenly a voice called "Hey, who are you and what are you doing?", but the two ponies didn't mind it and just sat into the spaceship.
"Do you know how to fly such a thing?" Early Light asked.
"No, But I'm confident I'll find out."

At the same time Luna waited in the Abenddämmerung to take off.
"Your highness, the fleet is ready, but we still need a little time to get the Abenddämmerung in the sky." A officer said.
"THE REST OF THE FLEET SHALL WAIT UNTIL OUR GREAT AND POWERFUL MACHINE IS READY!" The princess answered.
"At your command."

Suddenly, a communication officer said: "Incoming message! It says that a fleet from Equestria has started and is heading right to the moon!"
"WHAT? HOW IS THIS....HOWEVER! WE WANT TO SPEAK THE ADMIRAL! NOW!"
The admiral ran on the conning tower.
"ADMIRAL, IT LOOKS LIKE OUR SISTER WANTS TO AVERT OUR PLANS! YOU WILL START NOW WITH THE FLEET TO STOP HER, WE'LL COME LATER WITH THE ABENDDÄMMERUNG TO ASSIST YOU!"
"At your command, your highness!"

One minute later, a gigantic fleet started from the moon. It contained circular, small, light armed fighter spaceships and big, long, heavy armed battleships. It's opponent had small fighters as well, only that these versions were sustained and bright colored. Besides it had big battleships as well.

"Here we go," The admiral thought by himself. "Everyone get embattled and make ready to attack!"
The time seemed to freeze for a second as the fleets came in each others range of fire. Then hell broke loose. Beams of magical energy flew through the space ad found their targets to turn them into balls of fire and make them explode. Burning wrecks filled the sky and turned into a even more dangerous area. Every time one the bigger ships got hit the magic caused an explosion wich tore a big hole into the skin of the ship wich made the area behind this hole an exhaused deathtrap.
When the battle reached it's final point, a communication officer came to the admiral to debrief him about the battle. The admirals ship had been hit several times and was just about to go down.
"Sir, we have heavy casualties, if we don't get any support soon, we will be obliterated!"
"We will get support, we just have to stall them a little longer! Now get back on your positon!"
Then the admiral made a speech to the rest of the fleet.
"Soldiers, I know it's going on bad, but we have to stand! If we flee now, everything on wich we worked our whole life, everything we LIVED FOR, will be lost! So stand and fight until ypu are dead. Do it for yourself! Do it for your family! Do it for our princess!"
As he ended his final sentence, his ship exploded.

Another message from the fleet reached the Abenddämmerung. "Heavy casualties.....Can't hold any longer.....Ahhhh"
"WHEN ARE WE READY?" The princess asked in rage, mixed with a little fear of loosing.
"Any second now, your highness." The engine room responded. Soon after that, live came to the gigantic, circular machine.
"HUZZAH, NOW WE FLY!" The princess screamed in delight.

"That was easy." The commander of Celestias fleet said as the rest of Lunas defeated fleet withdrawed.
"Too easy, if you ask me." His adjutant responded.
"However. I think we should visit our princess now, don't you think so?"
"Whatever you want, 'll give order to.....Oh my...."
"What?"
"Look at this!"
As the admiral looked out of the window, he saw a spaceship wih was at least a hundred times bigger than his own, and his own ship probably had the size of half of Canterlot.
"This princess probably has the smallest wings in the whole universe!" Was everything he said.

"Now look what we got there!" Midnight Darkness said to Early Light as they approched the Abenddämmerung wich was just about to destroy Celestias fleet.
"Looks like we are not a moment too soon." Early Light replied.

Their spaceship came closer to the machine when it started to attack Celestias fleet. Even though Celestias fleet fought bravely, its weapons just couldn't damage the machine. Without getting noticed for some reason, they landed in the hangar of the Abenddämmerung.
"Ok, now how do we bring this thing down?" Early Light asked.
"I've no idea." Midnight Darkness responded "But there has to be an engie room or something like that. If we can destroy the engine of this thing, it should be finished."
"I see, but how do we get there?"
"We go to main elevator and then we use it to get to the engine room."
"How did you know this?"
"I looked at the plan."
Midnight Darkness said and pointed at a map on the wall.
"Oh."

"HAHAHA, TAKE THIS, YOU FOOL!"
A pleased princess Luna watched how her machine destroyed the rest of Celestias fleet.
"NOW YOU LEARN NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE ME, MY DEAR SISTER! HAHAHA!"
She said as the last ship became astro-garbage.
"AND NOW TO MY SISTER, WE DON'T WANT HER TO WAIT, DON'T WE? ADJUST THE MACHINE AND MAKE READY TO FIRE!"
"I've waited two hundred years for this moment and may I be my witness, I'll enjoy it!" Luna thought as she approached the lever wich triggered the weapon. She already had her macig floating around it and was just about to pull it, as suddenly all lights went black.
"WHAT HAPPEND?"
"Your highness, it seems like we are having problems in the engine room. I can't reach anyone there."
"Don't be concerned your highness, I'll take care of that." Dawning Night said. With these words, she left the coning tower.

"Did we destroy it?" Early Light asked.
"No, you probably just turned the power of!" Midnight Darkness replied.
"But isn't this enough?"
"Not if you not want to be killed by some guards who come here to look if everything is alright."
"Seems legit. So what are we looking for?"
"A self-destruction button, there has to be one."
"Why do you think so? I mean, wouldn't it be kinda stuid to give such a big thing such weak point?"
"I know it's stupid, but it has to be somewhere here, so keep on searching!"

Suddenly a voice said. "You can search as much as you want, but you won't find it!"
As the both ponies looked around, they saw Dawning Night. "The self-destruction button is on conning tower of course, you retard."
Then she opened fire with her magic, wich made Early Light and Midnight Darkness run into cover. Immediatly after the two ponies were out of her line of sight she approached the engine. It turned out that the both ponies only had pulled out one plug. She putted it back into it's position.

Meanwhile on the conning tower, lights went on again.
"PERFECT, NOW SHE SHALL PAY!" Luna screamed as she pulled the trigger. But nothing happend.
"Seriously, what is wrong again now?" The princess asked.
"Due to the lack of energy we had we have to re-charge the gun. This will take only one or two minutes." An officer answered.
"Well then..."

"Do you really think you will get away with this? Do you even know what you are doing?" Midnight Darkness shouted without actually seeing his opponent.
"I could ask you the same thing!" A voice answered.
As Midnight Darkness went out of his cover to take a look around a beam of magic exploded next to his head. It threw him on the ground and made everything black for a few seconds. As he opened his eyes again, he looked right at Dawning Night.
"Any last words?"
"Not to you!"
"Well then. It's funny. I nearly feel sad for doing this." She said. Just before she could cast her spell, she got hit by something and fell to the ground. Right behind her stood Early Light holding a extinguisher in his hoofs.
"Guess I have to thank you again." Midnight Darkness said.
Then they walked back to the engine. "How do we get this thing destroyed?" As his friend was looking at the engine, Midnight Darkness recognized a movement in the corner of his eye. He pulled Early Light to the ground just a second before a magic beam flew over the position where they just stood and hit the engine. It started to smoke and made weird noises.
"Looks like we know now how to break this thing. Let's get out of here!" Midnight Darkness said.
They ran out of the engine room, right in the direction of the elevator.

"Now I got them. There will be no escape!" Dawning Night thought as she saw the two ponies running to the elevator. She took aim. But before she could shoot, the exploding engine turned her into nothing more than a pile of ash.

"Man, that was damn close!" Early Ligt said as the elevator reached the hangar. Luckily it hadn't been damaged a lot by the explosion. Both walked back to the spaceship and took of.

In the conning tower instead, casualties had been a lot higher. Because of the many energy connections between conning tower and engine room the explosion of the engine caused several explosions in the conning tower. As Luna became conscious again, she had to recognize that pretty much everypony else was dead. To make it all even worse a screen said that the machine would explode in thirty seconds. Than she recognized that the gun was still aimed and ready to fire. "I waited too long to stop now!" She tought, and pulled the trigger.