The banquet hall was alive with mirth. Warm, dancing light filled the enormous grand chamber from a dozen enormous fireplaces, and sunlight from the setting sun streamed in through the grand windows. With smiles on their lips and skips in their steps, servants bustled along with trays of fresh fruits, pies, produce, pastas, pastries and drinks from the kitchens to the grand table.
While most sat at tables to feast and talk, many other ponies simply stood in the chamber in small clusters, chatting and laughing, sharing stories and telling of adventures. Among the earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorn crowds, were even griffons, mules, zebras, and other friendly creatures all sharing in the celebration and laughter.
But at the head of the grand, central table sat a single unique creature: Celestia, with Captain Armor at her right hoof.
It was the night before the thousandth year of the summer sun celebration, and there was warmth in every heart, and a smile strong on every face, except for one.
As she swallowed her last bite of cake, she trembled, ever so slightly. The quake was lost in the bustle of the evening to all except her closest shield, but before he could speak, a servant approached to re-stock her plate. Celestia held up a hoof and gently told her; “I am finished, thank you.”
Shining Armor turned to see the last rays of sunlight disappeared from the chamber as the fiery disc sank beneath the horizon. He turned back to his princess; “Celestia, is something the matter?”
She smiled at him. “All will be well when the sun rises.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but found his tongue frozen with uncertainty.
She stood up, and began tapping a spoon against a glass. A wave of silence spilled outward from her as every conversation stopped and all eyes and ears turned towards her.
“I thank you all, for coming to attend the Summer Solstice Eve Banquet, here in the Canterlot Castle. It brings such great warmth to my heart to see all of your smiling faces and beaks. Nothing brings me greater joy, I thank you. But the Summer Sun Celebration itself will soon take place in Ponyville, as it has been designated for this year, and so I must go make ready to attend it. For this is a very special Summer Sun Celebration. This, is the thousandth summer sun celebration...”
“Long live the princess!” Many cheered. She blushed slightly and nodded.
“Thank you, thank you... And may peace find you on this evening, for tonight, prophesy will be fulfilled. You are all invited to stay as long as you please, and please, continue to enjoy your meals and evening, while I go make ready. May you all have a good night.” She gave a small nod towards them, and they all gave a nod in return, along with a jumbled response of; “good nights,” “your majesties,” and more vigerous hails of “long live the princess!”
As she left the room and her cheering praises died down, every creature resumed their conversations with vigor and glee. One proclaimed to his circle, “See! She said 'faces and beaks,' a beak isn't a type of mouth, Gustav, hah!” amid merry laughs and mock squabbles, others bid goodnight with smiles to make ready for their own trips to Ponyville, but one stallion was only concerned.
“'Prophesy will be fulfilled?'...” Shining Armor quietly echoed. Without a word, he turned and ran from the chamber. His company exchanged confused looks, then carried on with their evening.
* * *
“Your majesty!” Shining Armor burst into Celestia's chambers, eyes wide and panting.
Celestia turned from her vanity halfway through doffing her corset, realization in her voice; “Shining... You have found the same dusty old books that have so frightened your sister, haven't you?”
“Is it true, then?! Will Nightmare Moon return tonight!?”
“Shining...” Her eyelids lowered as her voice softened; “Peace, and we will speak.” She nodded towards the chamber doors.
He sighed, trying to level his trembling breath, then walked over to the chamber doors, and gently shut them with a shaking hoof.
Celestia watched, then turned back to her vanity, facing Shining's reflection. “Yes, Captain Armor. This is the night that Nightmare Moon will return...” she bowed her head. “This is the night that I die.”
“You do not have to face her, not alone this time, your majesty. This is the night I have -”
She raised her head. “-No. I know your willingness, how you've always prepared to fight for me and Equestria, and I know you would not hesitate to lay down your life in defense of mine, but that is why you mustn't.” She arose, setting her corset down on the vanity, and gently approaching the guard.
He was dwarfed by her, and instinctualy bowed as she approached. “Your majesty, please...” his voice shook. She laid a hoof on his shoulder, and raised him. Crouching to her knees, and looking him in the eye, she continued; “This night will require the greatest of our courage, our greatest valor, and our greatest strength. I'm afraid you have not only found truth, but a great burden I must ask you to bear that comes with it. I know there is nothing harder I could ask of you, but I also know you, of all ponies in this kingdom, can do it...
“Shining Armor, tonight, I ask that you not defend me against Nightmare Moon. Can you do this?”
He shook. “Yes, your majesty, a-as you command...”
She arose again, and turning away, walked back to her vanity. “Then by morning, all will be well, as I have promised... If you can keep my command.”
“But... Why?” Confusion twisted his voice, he gritted his teeth, imagining the face of Nightmare Moon. “Why can't I take my spear, and run it through-”
“-Stop!” She cut him off with a shout. He froze, eyes wide again, the last word slipping off his tongue.
Celestia still faced her vanity. Her head was bowed again, her face hidden in her mane. A teardrop splashed against the wood in front of the mirror. Her voice only hinted at the cracks in her composure, “Within Nightmare Moon's grasp is my sister. You will not harm her with violence. I would sooner have you impale me than her.” her voice shook. “I was forced to slay her a thousand years ago, and her soul, as mine will when I die, went to her astral body. Only now will she finally regain the strength to return.”
He stayed frozen for several long moments, staring at her wide-eyed, his legs spread in a guarded stance as if he were readying to receive a tackle. “B-But what of the 'eternal night'? You would never leave your kingdom undefended against...”
“It will not be. It will be defended, and in the process, an ancient power will be restored to defend it against threats to come. There is more at work here, this night, than the return of an old enemy. Tonight, two princesses will find themselves.”
“And are you one of them? What of yourself? Will you be defended?”
She floated the royal tiara off her head, setting it on the vanity.
“No. Tonight... Tonight, I, also, am not Equestria's princess, but his shield.”
His ears drooped at seeing the princess remove her headpiece. His breathing quickened, his eyes darted left and right, then back to his leader. “What am I to do, Celestia? I wish to be by your side, even if I can't defend it!”
She turned to him, her own head still bowed, and ears flattened. His ears perked and head cocked at the sight, concern coming over his face before she spoke. “It will only hurt you, my zealous captain. Will it not be hard for you to watch what I must do? Tonight, if you wish to be by my side, you must watch me suffer and die.”
“Then I won't let you die alone! Equestria needs our princess!” Desperation and confusion clawed into his voice; “How can you-”
“Fear not, zealous pony.” She said firmly but gently, then continued softly, facing the ground; “Equestria will have her princesses...” she faced her guard once more, “Trust me. I know what I'm doing. I will die, but I will soon return. Death cannot conquer me, because of how I am linked to the sun, just as Luna was connected to the Moon. But it will still make it no easier to bear, or for you to watch.”
His eyes darted side to side again, trying desperately to make sense of Celestia's words with his panicked mind. “It will be harder for me to spend the night... Imagining what is happening... Than being able to be by your side!”
“Captain Armor, I cannot promise your safety in Nightmare Moon's presence, once I am slain... And this is a family matter... It is in-between me and her...”
“What more can I offer than my life, and staying my shield? I will do, I will give, anything and everything! Please, I beg, allow me to stay and be by your side! You know how I have dedicated my life to being Equestria's - and your - shield! Won't I be just as safe by your side as the rest of Equestria will be with Nightmare Moon running free?”
Celestia sighed. “You may stay as long as you wish, then. I can see how badly you want it. But do not forget, if you become afraid, you may leave at any time... I... Thank you, Shining Armor, for the gesture of support...”
“Anything, your highness.” He bowed, steadiness returning to his voice. “Anything I may do to assist you.”
“I will need some supplies...” She began.
* * *
A thousand years I have waited, a thousand years I have planned, and carefully cultivated my hatred.
Celestia.
The whore-queen of Equestria! Their love and admiration of her is cruel and unnatural! She coddles them like babies with her burning sun, and forces from them their hearts and souls with her soothing LIES.
She who burns the deserts and blinds the night, who would suppress the rest and peace of Equestria with her scorching fire! Who would scorch the eyes from your sockets if you dare look upon her for too long! How are they so blind to her evil!?
I will show them the coolness of night, and the power of tranquility! I will show them rest from the inferno, and all will praise ME as the RIGHTFUL QUEEN OF EQUESTRIA, when I have FREED them from the OPPRESSION OF THE SUN.
I AM NIGHTMARE MOON, NEMESIS OF CELESTIA, AND MY NIGHT SHALL LAST FOREVER!
* * *
The royal convoy cruised into the night. The princess' chariot was pulled by four pegasi, followed by a supply wagon, and flanked by flights of guards. As they flew off from the cliffs of Canterlot, Celestia spoke up. “Ivory shield, we will be taking a detour on the way to Ponyville,” she called out to the lead pegasi.
“As you will, your majesty! What is our course?”
“Take us halfway down the cliff face, then head northeast along it. We will stop at a platform that we will eventually come upon.”
Several pegasi exchanged confused glances. “Uh-yes, your majesty!” He led the convoy down the cliff face. As they flew past the waterfalls beneath Canterlot, she took a deep breath of the fresh, damp air, then looked down at Shining Armor, sitting at her side. His gaze went off into the night, and his face was solemn despite the cold, flying wind against it. She put a wing over his back. He looked at her, and inched closer. She wrapped the wing over him more surely.
Long into the flight, the pegasi grew uneasy, almost circling the entire mountain and still finding nothing. The captain of the guard himself had fallen prey to the cool night and warm embrace, and lay still with his eyes closed.
“Halt.” Celestia announced. The convoy stopped. She gently nudged the Captain awake. He blinked, shook off the sleep and regained his composure, then looked at Celestia, then scanned the barren, rocky mountain side around them, wonder falling over his face.
Celestia's horn began to glow, then a beam of light shot from it into the sky, curved towards a distant cliffside, and exploded against an invisible barrier. The barrier appeared as a glowing purple bubble, then shattered like glass, revealing inside an enormous platform extending from a massive ornate double-door in the cliffside.
“Princess!” the Pegasi captain exclaimed.
“Do not be afraid, Ivory, all is well. Take us to land on that platform.”
“Y-yes, your majesty! But may I ask?...”
“I am afraid not. It is for the best. All will be revealed in due time. But for now... I simply ask that you all must trust me. Fear not this night, you will not go astray. Sunrise will come, and all will be well. Now, Captain, to the platform.”
“Yes... Your highness.” The air was cool, but thick and oppressive to the tongue.
After they landed and disembarked, Celestia gave the pegasus captain a scroll, and ordered them to deliver it to the mayor of Canterlot. He obeyed, leaving the Princess, her Armor, and a covered chariot of packaged supplies on the remote platform, in the still, cool night.
They set to work, and Celestia dressed for the occasion.
* * *
“Is this it, then? Now we just... Wait?”
“Yes... Everything is prepared. Now, we wait.” Celestia wore a small green laurel, and loose, white robes distinctively patterned after a burial shroud. She smelled strongly of ancient perfumes.
Shining Armor hadn't dared to question it, though he did look at her often. “I understand... You said you would return... What is to be done with your body, and how long will it be?”
“I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your second question. But to your first... I have made myself an amulet, that will burn even my bones, soon after my death... If it brings you peace, you may remove it, and do what ceremonies you may with my body, and replace it, then after several minutes it will do its work. I only ask that Equestria have no proof of my death.”
He looked at the ground, furrowing his brows for several minutes.
“Why?” he asked, facing her.
She continued to gaze at the moon. “I have spent many years considering it... I believe Nightmare Moon's reign will be short, and I think it best for the citizens of Equestria, if I simply vanish when she comes. They will be afraid, but they will still have hope for my return to save them. This hope will keep them from fighting her... I hope.”
He nodded.
“It is not much longer now, Shining Armor...” she stole another look at the moon before turning to him, “The sight this night will be more wretched and violent than anything you are prepared for. Are you sure you wish to stay? I will not be offended if you wish to return to Canterlot, I am ready to provide the means.”
“I am sure, your highness. I have sworn my life to your protection, I couldn't bear to leave.”
She closed her eyes and nodded, “Very well... Thank you.” She faced him, “Thank you for staying with me.”
“I could do no less for my princess.”
He returned his gaze to yet another wonder just a few yards in front of him. A large network of runes were inscribed into the stone platform in marble, obsidian, gold and silver, all embezzled with jewels of a wide range of kinds. They were arranged in complicated networks of circles, arcs and lines, written in a language long forgotten to any living creature except Celestia.
A cool breeze blew over them. It continued for several long moments, only growing stronger. Celestia turned her gaze straight ahead. “The time is upon us,” she declared with a loud firmness. “Be strong, my shield, be vigilant – and be silent!”
He nodded. Far above, dark clouds condensed from the air, forming a swirling vortex with unnatural speed and sharpness. Though he made no expression, inside he gritted his teeth and strained his legs to keep them from shaking.
The eye of the storm perfectly fitted the moon. It glowed blood red, lightning rippled through the cloud and the wind grew stronger and bitter cold. The captain bit his tongue to keep from shouting questions and concerns at his princess. The stars made no motion to the moon despite her majesty's declaration.
Without warning, an ethereal purple mist sparkling with a million tiny stars shot from the astral body, crashing into the platform in front of them. Everywhere the mist fell was replaced by an endless starry void, yet the runes remained fixed in the emptiness, the simple stone platform around them having vanished.
Malicious laughter echoed from the depths of the cloud as it swirled into a dark figure as large as Celestia, but far darker than a starless night.
Shining armor recoiled.
“TRAITOR!” roared through the cloud and half-formed figure, echoing off the mountains around them. “I have come for what is MINE!” Her last word was punctuated with the figure stomping, breaking stone under its hooves, shaking the platform with an Earth-rattling scream as her figure solidified.
“I expected armies, castles, fire, but you face me dressed for your burial and with only one guard!? I never conceived it in this manner!” Confusion overcame anger as her words ended.
Celestia only lowered her head slightly, a small smile forming as she spoke soft words; “It has been a long time. I can hear your voice in there, Luna...” A tear ran down her cheek to her smile.
“I AM NOT LUNA! I AM NIGHTMARE MOON!” Her shouts shook the world once more.
“I know.” Celestia's voice suddenly hardened with determination, and her wings flared. Her eyes became solid white, her mane turning to fire as her body shone like the sun, blinding her sister and guard. Her shroud and wreath had vanished. She didn't move her lips, yet her voice echoed off the mountains as rolling thunder, “REMEMBER.”
Nightmare Moon cowered, shielding her eyes, her clouds of nightly mist burning away in an instant, revealing her solid form. “You are the elder sister!” She cried. She opened her eyes to find the sun princess back in her normal form, once again dressed in the robe, and the humble floral wreath once again sat in her mane.
As the Nightmare regathered its ethereal mist, the elder returned to her firm, but gentle voice, “I do not fear you. You do not know me, but I know you. You are the younger, and yet, I am prepared to make an agreement with you, because I love the being I know is trapped within your foul maw. I am dressed this way as a sign of what I am willing to do to bring peace between us once more.”
Shining Armor merely watched on from a spot retreated by a few yards, frozen and unblinking, eyes wide.
“What is this agreement?” the Nightmare hissed as it scowled.
“Look on the runes that surround you. The contract is simple, yet binding.” As she spoke, runes began to flare to life with white light. As she recited the spell, the words echoed from the runes themselves in shouts, whispers and echoes, their meaning piercing the hearts and minds of all that heard them;
“As my heart is broken and stilled, so your heart will be softened.
“As my life is given, so the lives of my subjects may not be taken at your hooves – as long as they remain faithful to the laws I have given them...
“...But so neither can your life be ended.
“And though I am tortured and slain, my body must be reverenced.”
The entire complex was lit, all leading to one central jewel directly in front of Nightmare Moon.
She scowled at her solar sister, and then laughed. “What a fool! Naive as always, and blind as you ever were! Blind to my pain, and blind to your own stupidity!” She sneered.
“Do you agree?” Celestia patiently asked again.
“YES! So I can hear your last agonized breaths as I take your life, and your glory that rightfully belongs to ME!” Nightmare Moon stomped on the gem in front of her with her hoof, causing it to glow with light. All at once, the light from the runes shot into the sky, then blew outwards across the night.
She laughed. “Why would you ever do such a foolish thing, dearest sister? I have always known you to be blind, Celestia, but this even exceeds your usual stupidity! Just as you underestimate the glory I deserve, so you underestimate the power of my intellect! I'll take every subject the cries your name, and use their immortality against them to hang them, torture them, and bury them in lava!” she shouted with ecstasy.
A stern determination came into Celestia's voice; “Keeping you from taking their lives, does not only mean that you cannot slay them. You cannot take their lives away from them. This magic knows your mind and heart, Nightmare Moon, you cannot bypass it, and you know this.”
The beast continued with greater desperation to crush its sisters' hope; “But I am not here to slay all your subjects – only to take their loyalty – and the glory that was my birthright! They will be MINE!” her last words echoed off the mountainside with eerie similarity to her cries of anger a thousand winters ago.
“You will not make them your slaves.” She calmly but sternly stated.
“Hah! But what if they choose to bask in my glorious night? Are they not merely slaves to YOU, if you don't let them follow me!?”
The sternness fled and left her voice calm; “No. That is why they have been allowed to choose. As you can see, this is only contract magic. I enslave nopony. Only those who wish to abide by it are under its power. My protection is a projection of my will; I would not force it on anypony without their consent. That is why they must remain faithful to my laws, for as they submit their will to what I have asked of them, they submit their wills to me, and thus I have jurisdiction over them...
“However, if they reject my jurisdiction, then they forfeit my protection, and are unprotected from your wiles.”
Nightmare Moon dashed to Celestia, throwing the elder onto her back and pinning her.
“Celestia!” Shining Armor shouted.
She merely looked to her shield with a look of solemnity. Her calm expression spoke volumes, and words rang in Shining's mind; I ask that you not defend me against Nightmare Moon. Can you do this?... Be strong … and be silent!
So he merely stood gawking, silently. Whether oblivious or ignoring him, he couldn't tell, but the Nightmare continued as though he weren't there.
“Then I will be their QUEEN! I will bribe them against eachother with riches and glory, until there is such desecration that mothers will but smile at the familiarity of the sight when their foals are torn from them and ripped asunder, I will take Equestria back to before the first Hearth's Warming, and fuel their hate with ambition for riches, glory and power – and with this they will lie, steal, and murder in wars and strife until the whole world is painted red with the blood of the innocent and ANY WHO DARE LOVE YOU!”
Still as calm and level as ever, Celestia replied; “I knew you would never agree if I forced you to be silent. And indeed, to grow strong and become Equestria's guardians, there are some who must face you that they may learn to uncover who they truly are – the nobility that lies in their hearts; and I know those six by name. You may do what you wish, but you will be confounded by those who will always love my truths above your lies.”
“SILENCE!” the younger screeched, her horn glowing. Ethereal glaives the color of her magic appeared around her. Spinning madly, they lunged to their target.
For the first time, Celestia's calm was broken by a look of primal fear as the blades shrieked towards her.
The scream echoed off the mountains and across the vales, but would only be the first of many. An alicorn does not die easily.
* * *
The Nightmare panted with exhaustion, a frenzied, pained, insane grin plastered across her face, her horn glowing. “I know you're still alive, you pathetic creature.”
The stone and runes were lost underneath the blood slick across the platform. The white lump was almost entirely red, mottled with broken feathers and its own blood, lacerations, tears, cuts and abrasions blanketing her body that shook with pained breathing.
“And to think you actually could slay me, here and now, but so foolishly continue this ruse of selflessness? A true leader would stand up for herself, for her ponies, and her kingdom!” The sister shrieked as she lay down several more lashes with all her might, leaving yet more fresh tear marks on the battered pelt of her sister.
“Nothing? Nothing at all? I'm having the time of my life, sister!” she laughed, “And you don't even tell me, 'congratulations,' or, 'why?', or 'I hate you?'? Instead you just lie there in silence and let your last words be shrieks?” She feigned shock, mouth agape. “Why, I've called you foolish so many times, self-conceited, wicked, flawed, pathetic, incapable of defending your subjects – but this. You still amaze me with your stupidity. But, if you refuse to speak, as you have all night...” She glared at her older sister, lifting her in her magic, forcing her to stand.
The battered figure's head, however, remained bowed, her expression hidden by her auroral mane. It no longer flowed nor glowed, but hung as limp as her body. Yet the slight uneasy, broken, pained breathing, was barely visible, and her unsteady heartbeat could be felt in the younger sisters' magic.
“...then I guess we're about done. I've tried my hardest to keep you from dying early on me, and losing out on this fun – our last little party together,” she leaned in close, smiling widely. Celestia's face remained hidden. “Oh, come on. Even you hate me, now. Your pride will never show your face to me, though, not when it betrays your true, flawed self. But it will be just as visible on your corpse. I'm afraid, despite all my best efforts to keep you alive, your heartbeat seems weak and about to fail, so I'll make sure it never starts again.”
She lifted an enormous spear in her magic, lining it up to the captive's heart. Celestia remained limp, lifted in her sister's magical grasp. “Anything more to say? Anything at all? Or perhaps your throat is too tired from screaming? Ah, weak as ever. Farewell, sister...” A grin spread across her face, her heart racing. “I'm going to have so much fun repeating this with your little ponies, pretending they're you, knowing how much it'll pain you to know they're being tortured...”
The spear floated in the air, unmoving. Celestia remained as she was.
Nightmare Moon gave her several more moments. Still nothing. She scowled, “Fine, you stubborn beast, die,” she growled. The spear lunged forward, blade and a stretch of shaft disappearing into her chest and re-appearing out her back. The magic glow around her neck and wrists disappeared, leaving her to collapse to the ground.
Celestia gasped, tensing and freezing. “L-Luna...” she whispered as she desperately dragged herself to her sister.
The younger gasped, eyes wide at her final words, her first words since the blood had began being spilled. “What?” She hissed, “Are you finally going to admit my superiority, you self-righteous whore? My glory!? My right to the throne as the soul monarch of Equestria!? How they should have loved ME instead of YOU!?”
Celestia mustered a supernatural last wind, burning her last life with all her might to get her forelegs to straighten, allowing her to set her horn on her younger sister's shoulder, before speaking with a gentle, sweet voice forgotten to Nightmare Moon, “I forgive you, Lulu.”
The tortured princess collapsed, heart obliterated, chest still.
The nightmare was frozen, pupils shrunken to dots.
It is said that the unearthly wail that followed was heard in foreign lands.
* * *
She may have robbed me of my glorious, crowning, sweet moment of revenge –
stealing the glory that I earned with her blood right out from under my hooves –
she may have continued to belittle me even as she died, but my revenge has only just begun –
I will show these monsters she called 'her ponies' true suffering –
The Sun is gone, the world will panic and tear itself to pieces in terror –
And I will laugh and laugh as her subjects turn to evil and tear each other asunder for food and warmth,
And I will be left, princess of the eternal night, of perfect stillness, of unending glory and dominion.
The Nightmare searched the ground below as she flew. In her bodiless ethereal mist, she had no eyes nor ears, but she could feel all the magic and life around her further than any natural eyes could ever see. She could feel the wind blow through the grass on the far side of distant mountains, the warm life-magic of the gentle heartbeat of a mouse, burrowed in its den even farther off, and hear the breath of an owl, sitting in a tree, waiting for the mouse to come out.
But there was another creature on her mind. A strong stallion, weak from running most of the night, hiding deep in the forest and as terrified as the distant mouse should have been.
The starry cloud descended through the canopy like water pouring through a net, and gathered into her towering, inky form.
The stallion cowered, then quickly dove for cover into a small, natural ditch.
She grinned. “Oh, you pitiful creature, I just found you through the canopy and from ten thousand yards in the sky, do you really think you can hide from me now?” She chided, grabbing him in her magic, and pulling him out of hiding.
“Spare us both some torturing – it's been a long night for myself, as I believe you may have seen, and I grow tired of it. Who are you? How has Equestria prepared for my arrival? Why did you go with Celestia?”
He glared at her. “I-I saw the contract made! You can't harm me! You can't even imprison me! Why should I tell you anything?” He yelled defiantly.
“Oh, so you did see that, did you?...” A cruel smile spread on her lips as she formed a whip in her magic, “Why don't we find out just how far that contract goes, shall we?” She didn't give a moment of pause before she unleashed it on him.
He barely had time to cower, guarding his face with his forelegs. He screamed all the same. Before he could recover, he was once again gripped in her magic and held in the air. With his head back, he couldn't point his horn at her for any of his attack spells.
“So I can still inflict all the pain I need. Excellent.” Her grin grew even wider. “Now, perhaps, you'll tell me who you are, and how Equestria has prepared for my arrival?”
He spat. “I don't even care that it will hardly make a difference – I will never do anything to help a horrible -”
“Enough.” She cut him off, strangling him as she clenched his throat with her magic, holding him in the air with it.
He gagged and began writhing, reaching for the magic noose in vain.
“Now let's see how this magic works, yes? If it does at all. It's been a long time, perhaps Celestia was a little senile with her preparations? Oh yes, she's dead now, you know. But at least you'll join her shortly.”
His horn flared, and he vanished in a flash of light.
“Oh, a teleportation spell,” She calmly noted. “How wonderful, I've found a rather powerful unicorn. This will make things more fun. I need a little hunt to break in this world.” She calmly scanned the air with her magic. She turned to her left and scowled into the distance. With a flash of light, he re-appeared next to her.
“Gotcha,” she playfully told him as she grabbed him in her magic again.
“What are you after!? I can't tell you anything if I'm dead!” He barked at her, meeting her condescending gaze with a hateful glare.
She started calmly circling him as she talked, holding her chin up in the air in front of her, not even looking at him. “Oh, I'm just experimenting with this little contract Celestia put me under, now.” Gripped in her magic, she began nonchalantly wrapping her magical grip around his neck again. “I'm really not afraid of anything you petty mortals can do to me. I'm not even bound to my body, you could strike me with a cannonball, and I could merely re-form myself. I'm not nearly so fragile. And my magic is unmatched. I was impressed by your ability to teleport, but I can reach back and pull you right back, and as long as you're in my grip -” she turned and bore down on him with a glare and a victorious grin, “You can't escape.”
His pupils shrank to dots. He tried teleporting again – nothing happened. “B-but...” his mind raced for solutions.
She returned to her cool, aloof attitude, turning away and pacing around him. “I can reverse it as you cast it, teleporting you right back within a millionth of a second – like you were never gone at all. Far superior to Sombra's magic,” She paused, putting a hoof to her chin, “Hmm, but you don't even know who that is, do you? Not even a legend?...
“No matter, I'm curious to know how this magic will work. I could spear you, or pull your head off, but something so sudden, and so directly by my hoof may backfire on me. The spear may find its way back to me, or whatever creativity this root magic comes up with. So I've chosen something more detached from myself, and that will slowly, slowly blur the line in-between life and death, so I can see when it kicks in – when it draws the line in-between torture, like the whip's lash that it allowed, and execution, which the contract forbade. Let's see now whether the contract even works, whether it saved you...”
She turned and met his gaze yet again, “Or if it was just dumb luck.”
A defiant grin spread across his face. He hadn't thought of a solution, but something else had come to mind in his fast thinking. “You lose the dramatic effect by doing that little glare twice. And this monologuing is path-”
Her magic clenched down on his throat, silencing his word halfway through with a strangle. “Your choice of words is even poorer, as the situation clearly shows. It's hard to take criticism seriously from a mortal who will be soiling himself as he dies in a few seconds, you idiot!” She seethed with anger with the last word, constricting even harder with a jerk.
She grinned wide again, bearing her sharp teeth. “Oh, you have any more witty remarks for me? I can't quite hear them. There seems to be something caught in your throat – speak a little louder?” she leaned an ear in as she spoke, then laughed.
His eyes were squinted shut as he fought for a solution and struggled against the magic grasp. His eyelids snapped open and revealed glowing white eyes.
“What!?” the Nightmare whipped her head around to him, “Here, now!? But-”
A purple bubble exploded outwards from his horn, knocking the alicorn back and tearing a nearby tree apart. He gently landed on his hooves inside, breathing clearly.
The elder being gawked at the sight.
In another flash, he vanished, and the bubble melted away.
“Shield magic? Shield magic!? He had a shield on his cutie mark... He was clearly a guard, but...” She began pacing more quickly, “A shield and stars... I should have known, I should have known!” She yelled. “I've known few ponies ever who could cast that kind of magic... And with a magic surge, too? But...”
She cursed Celestia, then quickly ran to where he'd vanished, repeating what she'd done before. “I'll end this now, you stubborn foal...”
With another flash of light, nothing appeared.
She froze when she saw it. Nothing. It took several moments before it dawned on her; “He teleported twice... Clever pony. I'll block your magic, and have you executed later. I'll have somepony else carry out the sentence – no magic spell forbids them from killing each other... But first, I have a throne to reclaim...” She melted into an ethereal cloud again, and shot into the sky, heading straight for her old castle.
* * *
Along the way she saw the grand city on the side of the mountain, and many towns she had never seen before. Most seemed unusually empty, and another seemed bustling over the brim for its small size, and not a pony was asleep. She listened in to many distinct conversations as she flew by – a festival – summer sun – Celestia was to raise the sun...
What a brilliant little party to crash... No better place to say hello, than a little “raising the sun” party thrown for that traitor of my sister... She dove for the town hall, and waited for her cue.
The pathetic creatures haven't the slightest idea... Still, it seems as though that little contract Celestia made may actually be a threat... It's best I reserve displays of power for later – I would only make a fool of myself if I had another failure like with that guard earlier. No, I will use fear and force them to kill each other, later...
The mayor pulled open a set of curtains on a balcony with an introduction; “...Princess Celestia!”
The balcony was empty, the princess, missing. The gathered crowd chattered nervously amongst themselves.
“Remain calm, everypony,” The mayor tried to sooth them, yet fear edged at her own voice, “ - there must be a reasonable explanation.”
The fear continued. Let it sink in, let them really know it, I want to hear them say it...
A white unicorn trotted out to the central balcony, “She's gone!” she announced.
Now, I am here...
Her mist spread over the balcony, then gathered together in a shell and exploded outwards to reveal her towering alicorn form. She proudly spread her wings. Scanning the crowd of ponies with a satisfied grin, she addressed them; “Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces...”
A cyan pegasus shot up; “What did you do with our princess?!” Some earth pony bit her tail to hold her back.
Nightmare Moon laughed. Oh, what a sweet question... “Why, am I not royal enough for you?...” she teased, before a realization came to her. Wait... Do they not even recognize me!? “Don't you know who I am?” She asked, anger biting into her voice. She approached a yellow pegasus, leaning in to her face to force an answer, “Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years?”
The pegasus cowered back, too terrified to answer She would probably just start crying if I pressed... She turned to the unicorn who'd announced Celestia's disappearance, expecting more courage and knowledge from a pony with a streak of leadership, “Did you not recall the legend?” She flicked the unicorn's chin with her ethereal mane. She smiled as she readied herself for more violence, “Did you not see the signs?”
“I did!” A young unicorn called out, interrupting her moment. “And I know who you are - ” Nightmare Moon stood up from the other unicorn, satisfaction resting smugly on her face. Go ahead, introduce me, my little pony, let them know to fear me... “ - You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!”
The crowd collectively gasped.
I like this pony... “Well well well, somepony who remembers me...” Perhaps she'll do well as one of my servants. Or, if she's disloyal, a public example... Let's try this; “Then you also know why I'm here.”
“You're here to - “ The unicorn glanced at the ponies around her, pausing and gulping “ - to...” She couldn't bring herself to say it.
Nightmare laughed. How pathetically cute. “Remember this day little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night. will last. Forever!” She laughed madly as she felt sweet victory – helpless ponies cowering before her, little foals squirming under her power. Her mane and tail swirled with glee and rippled with lightning.
“Seize her! Only she knows where the princess is!” The mayor shouted out to the guards. A flight of guards bore down towards her.
She hesitated. “Stand back you foals!” Enough force to knock them away, not enough to kill them lest Celestia's magic make a fool of me here! She brought down lightning from her swirling night – doing exactly as she willed, blowing the mortals back but not threatening to trigger Celestia's protective spell. She laughed at the thrill of the power blowing them away – and quickly broke herself into a cloud again, fleeing madly for fear of Celestia's spell retaliating.
This spell – I did not consider that I would fear it so much! Yet I cannot deny it – I cannot risk it – what happened with that guard was clearly the work of Celestia's spell, making my enemies grow only stronger... I cannot attack them directly. I must be clever, indirect – how indirect do I have to be, before it is no longer me that slays them? And if that fails, I can only turn them against each other...
What of that one unicorn? She was the only one who remembered – so she might also remember how Celestia imprisoned me!...
She would be proven right in her fear. So she set out, trying to slay them less and less directly, hoping the spell wouldn't keep gravity from killing them – or another being altogether; a raging manticore. Nonetheless, the root magic was too smart, too aware of her intentions, and they continued unharmed from anything she did.
So she desperately tried to stop them with fear, by making a river impassable so that by entering it, they would slay themselves against the sea serpent, and when all else failed – even turning them against each other.
But again and again, her attempts would prove fruitless, and with the ancient magic returned, the Nightmare would be slain, and Luna would be set free from her grasp.
Weakened by the beast that had consumed her, the small figure lay amidst the charred remains of Nightmare Moon's armor, unconscious.
* * *
“Princess Luna!” A familiar voice brought her back from the dark.
She gasped as her eyes opened and she faced her elder sister once more.
Luna froze. The memories were vivid and clear – a lucid nightmare. She knew she had done those things, and they horrified her even though some other being had done them with her hooves – still, she saw the memories from her view, and it was her hooves that had been covered in her sister's blood.
Yet, for the first time in so long, she felt the morning breeze, and was surrounded by the gentle sunlight and light blue sky, streaming its peace in from the gaping hole in the roof, and enormous windows all around. For the first time in so long, just as she was free from the darkness of night, so she was free from the old hatred that had held her captive.
The morning birds chirped outside – a beautiful sound she had long forgotten.
The burning rage, jealousy, and madness of power were gone, instead, she was only well aware of how small and weak she was.
“...It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this.” Celestia sat in front of her, coming down to her level. “Time to put our differences behind us...”
Her eyes went back to the shards of smoldering armor behind her. A-after all that I did?... All that I did as Nightmare Moon?...
“We were meant to rule together, little sister. Will you accept my friendship?” She stood back up.
She looked away and shut her eyes.
A-after all of that? But I killed you, I!...
She looked back up at Celestia. You called me 'sister'... You never called Nightmare Moon 'sister'... Nay, you said you would spare m-Nightmare Moon because of who was held in her maw, not who she was... Because... You don't believe I'm Nightmare Moon...
Luna looked down to her chestpiece. It had formed on her when Nightmare Moon had been stripped away. Am I Nightmare Moon?
Her coat and chestpiece were different colors from Nightmare Moon's. She suddenly realized the sharp difference in-between the humility and smallness she felt, and the thirst for power and raving hatred Nightmare Moon had.
It crashed over her all at once – she was free from the beast's maw, free to start over, free to not be Nightmare Moon, a great and marvelous power the beast had lacked. She could finally choose to be somepony else, and no tantibus of hatred was forcing her to be consumed by anger and false power and suppressing her true nature with jealousy and fear -
She flew forward without a thought, and the words flew from her lips, unable to be held back – “I'm so sorry!” She landed right on Celestia's chest, and looked up at her – she didn't even look the same.
No longer the lying, traitor and whore-queen Nightmare Moon had seen, instead, she saw the gentle, loving and wise sister she had only known more than a thousand years ago. “I missed you so much big sister!” The tears poured from her eyes uncontrollably as she finally saw her once more, as herself.
Celestia rested her chin on Luna's head as she spoke, in a gentle and warm embrace.
It was over. The nightmare was over.
“I missed you, too.”
