Nightmare Moon is... Maleficent

"Uh-oh," Luna breathed out as she hovered into the air and flew towards the castle. Her sister trailed behind her, just about to attack her when they found themselves in the throne room.

Helia stood near the thrones, and waited impatiently as she watched her daughters enter the throne room. "Celestia, go to your room!" She demanded. "Luna, you're not in trouble for going into the woods."

Celestia stomped out of the throne room and stormed through the door on the left. Luna wondered if her sister descended further and further into madness and ambition.

"It's strange that I never got in trouble," Luna commented.

"You are the good princess. Your sister is..." Helia paused.

"Evil?" Luna finished for her mother.

"No. She's really bad. She disrespects others." Helia nodded.

"Oh." Luna nearly sighed with relief. She didn't want to know that her sister could be evil. That scary thought gripped her soul, and the icy claw of fear gripped her heart.

She once had a dream where her sister descended into darkness and was driven mad by the dark flames and the whispering voices. She couldn't fathom the fact that her sister had always tried to ruin her life and tried to turn her world upside down. Celestia was so consumed with the tempting ambition to become a powerful queen, and forgot to love her sister as a result of that.

Luna had seen how her sister worsened with each year. Although Celestia's love for Discord made her seem alive, her hate towards others made her seem dead inside. Was that love a conditional kind of love?

The young princess shook her head, and trotted into the hallway. She soon found herself in her bedchambers. She didn't mind being in her room, actually. It was better than being in the throne room, where all the drama would take place sometimes if her parents held court. All the gossip and rumors would irritate her. Even though she was loved by all she met, she sometimes wondered if she would ever be allowed to have time to herself.

Right now, she had time to herself. She levitated her journal from her midnight blue nightstand, and then she hopped onto her dark violet bed. The blanket resembled the night sky, and the pillows were shaped like the full moon. One pillow in the center was shaped like the crescent moon.

Luna levitated a quill, and opened her journal. She started to write out her thoughts and feelings about the day, and even wrote the moment where she spied on Celestia and Discord in the Everfree Forest. She didn't find the romance to be adorable. She actually thought that Celestia's love was feigned. There wasn't genuine kindness in the older sister's heart.

Was that because she never felt joy, remorse, or love? What are the only emotions that Celestia could feel? Perhaps she only felt rage, hatred, and irrational fear. What had happened with her joy or her remorse?

Luna figured that Celestia pushed out the two important emotions. Her sister even wrested the love and compassion out of her heart. Soon, there would be no more light in her; only darkness and hatred would exist in Celestia's point of view.

She came to a shocking revelation. She would never witness her sister's joy or her sister's sadness. She would also never witness her sister's love. Luna sighed as she finished writing in her journal. She wanted to redeem her sister, but she didn't want to be harmed by her wrathful side. A tear rolled down her cheek.

She didn't mind crying in private. She hated to cry in front of others, especially her sister. Her sister would tease her for crying. The ponies would cry with her, but Luna never wanted to bring gloom to the kingdom. She wanted to fill the kingdom with joy and harmony.

Two years passed, and as Celestia turned sixteen on her birthday, she visited the Everfree Forest and searched for Discord.

As Celestia trotted into the meadow, she looked to the skies. The sun began to set. "Discord! Discord!" She called out. "I'm here!"

Discord landed behind her. "Look who came back," He returned.

Celestia turned to face her sweetheart, and forced herself to smile. "I thought it was worth the risk," She replied. "Today is my sixteenth birthday."

"Yes, of course. I will bring you a gift."

They looked into each other's eyes. The golden beams of sunlight shot through the trees and lighted up their figures. From a distance, they resembled dark silhouettes against the bright sunlight.

Soon, their faces were mere inches apart. As Celestia's lips pressed against Discord's, warm feelings filled them. The kiss was so true, so sincere, and so loving... Discord had considered this to be True Love's Kiss.

Later into the night, Luna remained in her room, writing in her journal. The faint beam of moonlight shot through the window, and lighted up the room. The moonlight gave the room a faint and almost angelic glow. She had heard rumors about her sister falling in love with Discord. Silver Moon told Luna the details earlier when the sun finished setting into the horizon. The princess knew that the kiss was true, but Celestia's love is not honest and true. Discord's love is. Somehow, Luna began to fear that Celestia might forever break Discord's heart someday.

She had grown more curious about the Everfree Forest. She would visit every week. She wasn't one to hurt the innocent creatures, and nor was she one to quarrel with the Fair Folk. Everypony in the forest seemed to love her, not because she was the younger sister, but because she was eternally kind to them.

A week had passed since Celestia visited the forest. Luna didn't know what happened to her parents since ever they departed for another kingdom to debate with a foreign ruler. As Luna strode through the halls, a pony came up to her, saddened and disconsolate.

"Your Highness," The pony began. "Your mother, the Queen, took ill on the road. She died because the plague had affected her. She thought of you, so she wanted to give you this..."

Celestia watched from the dark corner of the hallway, and felt the envy grow in her heart once more. How dare she not receive a gift from her parents? Surely, they had forgotten about her! Once she became a queen, she would be sure to make her sister a servant so that Luna's beauty would be hidden from view.

Luna's body shook with each sob as she heard the terrible news about her mother. "I was close to her. Now, she is gone forever," She murmured.

The servant took a necklace from the saddlebag, and placed it onto Luna's neck. The necklace had the crescent moon in the front. "Be strong, Your Grace," The pony whispered.

"Thanks," Luna whispered as the pony slunk away from view. She looked to the door in front of her. That was where she would see her mother every night whenever her mother slept. She would take comfort in her company... and now, she had forever lost the light of her life!

She rushed towards the door, stormed into the room, and leapt onto the mattress. Each sob shook her body. A wave of grief washed over her, and drowned her underneath the sea of mourning.

Celestia snuck into the room, and approached the mattress. A kind facade might convince Luna to maintain the castle and do chores that many servants would do. "Luna, I think it would be good for you to clean the castle halls and clean the bedrooms. That will distract you from your grief," She lied.

Something stirred in Luna's heart, yet she was unconvinced by the lie. "Please, give me time. I need to be alone," Luna objected.

"I'm not forcing you to do it. It's a suggestion. And... if you want to get away from the drama in the castle, I suggest that you sleep in the West Tower. It's very quiet and empty, and can be furnished."

"Okay, sister. I'll do it."

"I almost forgot." Celestia nodded as she levitated the tray in front of Luna. "Take this to the West Tower. This will be useful."

Luna blinked as she looked at the tray. She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "Why are you doing this to me?" She wondered.

"I thought you wanted to clean up the castle," Celestia retorted curtly.

"Fine." Luna sighed as she took the tray and trotted into the hallway. Was she being stripped of her royal status?

She trotted to one of the castle towers, and strode through the door. She looked up, and saw the winding staircase. It was too cold up there. Luna spied a fireplace in front of her, and placed the tray onto the cold stone floor. Had Celestia planned this all along? It would be uncomfortable to sleep on the floor!

Luna sighed as she trotted back into the hallway. Celestia stood by the door, waiting impatiently. "I have dismissed all the servants. Now go clean everything up! We have to prepare for our father's arrival. He will be here in less than a week," She demanded.

"That wouldn't be enough-" Luna began, but was interrupted when Celestia placed a hoof onto her mouth.

"Stop whining, you brat! Just do as I said!"

Luna ran off, and swiftly levitated a bucket and a mop. She placed the mop onto the floor, and wiped it across the floor.

As soon as the castle became clean, Sunday came at last. Celestia waited in the throne room and waited for her father. But, nothing came during the afternoon. The same pony from before ran to her, and bowed before her. "Your Highness, King Orion will come home late because of some distractions," The pony reported.

"Okay. Tell me your name, sir," Celestia replied.

"I'm Chancellor Compass. I travel often with the King and Queen." He bowed once again, with more feigned loyalty than ever. He didn't trust the princess. He had a deep red mane, a brown coat with black spots, and his cutie mark was a compass.

"I've seen you several times, sir. Now return to my father! Don't let the distractions overcome his goal to return home," Celestia retorted coolly.

"Sorry!" The chancellor ran off before he could face Celestia's wrath.

Celestia was curious about her mother's crown that rested on the nightstand in the King and Queen's bedchambers. She trotted into the hallway, and snuck into the bedroom. The crown was more beautiful and tempting than ever. There was a violet gem on front of the crown. The crown was of a brilliant shade of gold, just like the sun.

"My," Celestia breathed out. "Oh, how glorious. When I become queen, this will be mine!"

She levitated the crown, and placed it onto her head. She walked to the mirror, and marveled at the reflection. She imagined ruling over her subjects and rising in power. She also imagined being the most powerful queen in the land. However, in the reflection, there stood a taller mare the color of fire. The mare's coat was deep crimson, and the mane was the color of the undying flames. Her pupils were draconic and were deep magenta.

"I am Solar Flare, Queen of the Glorious Sun," The reflection spoke.

Flames appeared, and surrounded the ambitious princess. Celestia grinned darkly. "When Luna attempts to rise against me, I will not be benevolent," She whispered. "I will be the kind of queen that rules with an iron hoof! I will make sure that nopony rebels against me! There is only one queen in Equestria, and someday, that queen shall be me!"

"When the sun rises, the moon will convince her otherwise. The sun shall stand her ground, and the sun shall make her tremble with terror!"

Celestia suddenly heard the approaching hoofsteps, and whirled around to face the one that snuck into the room.

Luna stood by the door, horrified. "Are you Solar Flare from the prophecy?" She interrogated. "Is this true? Are you the evil Queen of the Sun?"

Celestia remained still and firm. She would stand her ground. "Luna? This is not what you're supposed to know," She bellowed.

Luna backed away. "Don't burn the world or anything, okay?" She begged.

"Leave!" Celestia pointed to the door, and as Luna ran off, she slammed the door immediately.

Luna continued to run, and she soon escaped the castle. She looked behind her, and thought of what happened. She never found Celestia's fearsome wrath to be pleasant. She found it to be horrifying and wicked. The frightening reflection in the mirror was forever imbued into her mind. She will betray us all, Luna thought.

She galloped deeper and deeper into the Everfree Forest. All of a sudden, as she ran past a tree, she tripped over a log. Scratches appeared on her legs as a result. Blood spilled from her wounds, which made her feel worried. In front of her stood a mysterious figure in a cloak. Afraid for her life, she decided to interrogate the pony about the identity.

"Who are you?" Luna queried.

"I am Zecora. I see that you tried to run from the castle. The sun had decided to be cruel again, right? Let me lead you into my home," The pony replied.

"Oh. I've heard rumors about you. Well, I appreciate your offer." Luna stood up, and dusted the dirt off her legs. Some of the blood dripped onto her hooves.

They walked to a hut, and entered the building. Zecora gave Luna a curious glance before throwing some herbs into the cauldron. "Now, what is the reason you ran into the forest each week?" She asked.

"I have a friend that resides in the forest," Luna explained. "Discord is a friend of mine. He can be understanding. I intend to speak with him about my troubles this eve. Celestia tried to strip me of my title, and made me into the only servant in the castle. She never loved me. She was envious and cruel. She is not the ideal older sister. I wanted to find somepony that was more of a sibling to me than Celestia would ever be."

"Now, now. I have heard horror tales about Princess Celestia. She may be pale, but that does not make her pure and innocent. The light she shines with is not right. The light is wrong and sings the song of evil. She is self-righteous and prideful," Zecora replied.

Luna sat down on her haunches as she watched the zebra throw strange objects into the cauldron. This zebra was mysterious, but she was not malicious like Luna expected her to be. She knew never to judge a book by its cover.