Chapters The full moon shone bright in the mid-night blue sky. Stars twinkled in beautiful arrays above a white, majestic palace. On a balcony that stretched from the palace was a alicorn. Her coat was white as the moon. Her pink, green, and blue mane was infused with magic, enabling it to float around her and her wings. The same was true with her tail. She was dressed in royal jewelry reserved for her kind, such as a ring around her horn and a large gold collar.
Most importantly though was her slim gold crown. At first glance it seemed weightless. But upon her head, it was heavy. The alicorn looked up at the sky with her purple eyes, royal-looking even in the twilight. Taking a deep breath she channeled her power through her long, white horn. It began to glow and sparkle. A beam of light shot from her horn and toward the moon.
Pulling back ever so slightly she directed a clear path for the moon, and used her magic to move the moon in that path. After the moon had progressed a couple of spaces she relaxed. The beam of light vanished and the glow dimmed itself out. She had to do this every few hours. Her magic kept the moon moving, but it always needed a push. Hearing a sigh she turned her head. A yellow unicorn filly with a flaming red and orange mane was staring at her with obvious envy.
“Is there something wrong, Sunset Shimmer?”, the alicorn asked, moving a few hoof steps forward.
Sunset Shimmer sighed again and shook her head. “No”, she faltered, “Well, yes well.... I'm just wishing I could be a princess like you Princess Celestia, faster.” Sunset Shimmer looked at her with her turquoise pleading eyes, and a trembling lower lip that only fillies and foals could accomplish.“Is there a faster way?”
A sad smile spread across Princess Celestia's face as she extended a white wing toward Sunset Shimmer and pulled her closer.“I'm afraid not, my student. The only way is long and hard. But do not fret. What have I told you before?”
Sunset Shimmer hung her head, and replied “Friendship is magic.”
Princess Celestia looked at her closer, “Are you struggling with the task I gave you, my student?”
Sunset Shimmer frowned, and slowly nodded. “Yes, I guess so. Other Canterlot fillies and foals just don't want to be friends with me. The other students already have friends, and are not interested in being friends with me.”
Princess Celestia gazed at her with questions in her purple, regal eyes. “Have these fillies and foals told you this? Or, have you come up with this on your own?”
Sunset Shimmer just gave another sigh. Then she answered. “I came up with it. I'm sorry Princess Celestia, it's just so hard to overcome my shyness.”
Princess Celestia chewed her upper lip in thought. “How am I supposed to give advice to her on overcoming shyness when I was never allowed to struggle with it as a filly? If I did feel its claws, I had to ignore it because a soon-to-be princess can not ask her subjects about matters such as those. Soon, I could no longer feel its grip. My sister, Luna, had a different tale. With myself as the one to speak the most often, Luna never needed to make a speech. Well, except for that one time when I had a bad head cold and Luna had to fill the royal duties. Too bad for Luna as she had to make a speech to the orphanage caretakers. She had tried in front of the palace staff, and choked. We sent the royal adviser instead. Ever since, Luna, who before had been the shy one, practiced in front of a mirror so that if the time came she could fulfill the royal duties. She could have given the filly the proper advice.”
“Luna...”, Celestia looked at the moon once more, this time searching for the faint shadow that was upon it. Tears formed in her eyes, ones she quickly blinked away.
She bent her head down and thought on the matter at hoof. Luna had practiced for speeches at a mirror. Maybe, Sunset Shimmer could do likewise to learn speaking to other fillies and foals? Princess Celestia turned to Sunset Shimmer once more.
“Sunset Shimmer, maybe you should try and talk to mirrors for practice. Perhaps it would help you in your task.”
Sunset Shimmer looked at her with eyes filled with sudden hope, “I'll go and try right now!”
Turning to the balcony’s doorway, the filly bounded toward the nearest mirror. Princess Celestia smiled at the retreating figure, and turned her head to the night sky once again.
“Goodnight, my dear sister.”
Author's Note
First shot at a story! If you find anything positive, or negative please tell me in the comments! Thanks!
Far, far above Equestria, away in the depths of space was the moon. Upon the moon was a broken-down palace. It was once a grand thing to see, now it lay in ruins. The moonscape around the palace was equally ruined. Creatures that had lived upon the moon had been turned into vapors of gas. Inside the palace was a grand chamber with an onyx throne. An alicorn sat upon the throne with her wings folded across her back. Her coat was as black as the darkest night. Her mane and tail were midnight blue and sparkled with tiny stars. She was dressed in special alicorn armor which was covered in carved turquoise moons.
This alicorn was different than most. Her eyes were shaped like a dragon's with a turquoise iris surrounded by teal. Her horn too was unlike others, for it curved slightly. Two beams of magic spread from her horn. One supported a crystal ball, filling it with magical energy. The other spread widely about the room, making it glow with the same colors as her mane, and pulsing with energy like a heartbeat. This beam filled the otherwise airless space with life-giving oxygen; not that she needed that.
Celestia did not respond, for she could not hear anything that Nightmare Moon said, but Nightmare Moon could hear everything that Celestia said.
“Goodnight, my dear sister.”
Nightmare Moon snorted and cut off the beam of magic that held the image. The crystal ball fell and shattered upon the floor. “'Dear sister', huh? Well, excuse us your highness, but weren't you the one to send us into this exile?!”, she raged. “Weren't you the one to use the elements of harmony against us and banish us to the moon?!”
A voice interrupted, “Nightmare Moon, calm yourself, for you are frighting your daughter.”
Nightmare Moon drew in a sharp breath. Filling a nearby doorway were two shadows. The two shadows stepped forward and the larger form turned from shadow into solid; silver armor and red cape appearing before her eyes. The mane and tail were almost entirely black smoke. The unicorn's horn was grayish-red and curved even more than hers. It was his eyes however that were startling to most pony
Nightmare Moon walked over to a balcony, where one could see the celestial arrays of stars so much clearer than from Equestria. She lifted a hoof toward a particular patch of stars. They were almost in a straight line.
“The Lunar Pegasi are simply ponies who are nocturnal. They look different and eat different foods, but that does not mean that they should be hunted down like beasts. Every pony else just couldn't accept that. When Celestia refused to help, I rose up and got banished to the moon. But soon, very soon that throne will be mine....”
Personal Thoughts and Hopes
After completing the task of raising the moon to its needed height, Princess Celestia settled down upon a pillow and opened a book. Turning to a fresh page, she dipped a quill in ink and began to write.
My beloved Sunset Shimmer fell prey to the greed that had plagued her throughout her apprenticeship. She tried to become a alicorn princess by force. She went and convinced two little foals to be practically her slaves. She had them distract the guards, while she went inside. She burst into my room, horn glowing with dark magic powered by an alicorn amulet. She demanded that I make her into a princess or else I would end up just like that crystal. She turned around and removed the glass lid that was encircling the last remaining crystal from the Crystal Empire.
So a certain, 'rude' draconequus was not responsible. Thinking that if I didn't check it out I was going to regret it, I flew over. When I entered the tower, I found the inside to be utter chaos. Discord would have loved it.
Tonight, Twilight is in Ponyvillie, the little town set next to what our beloved castle. I can only hope that Twilight has followed my advice, made some friends and is now waiting for the ceremony to begin.
A flash caught Princess Celestia's eye, and she stopped writing. She looked at the night sky with grim acceptance. The shadow that had scarred the moon's face for a thousand years had vanished. In the night sky, a perfectly straight line of stars was visible.
Princess Celestia finished writing.
I hope that she will be able to free her. -Tia.
Author's Note
All right, third chapter into this story! Please tell me what you think, whether I should improve, or what. And please enjoy!
King Sombra lay on the soft carpet of Selena's room. Nightmare Moon took a lot of effort to make this room bright and cheerful, even though it was sadly lacking in toys, or books to read. King Sombra often told little Selena legends from his homeland, and made up games for her. She was now sleeping softly in her little bed. King Sombra sat up slowly, and quietly walked to the open balcony.
It had an excellent view of the stars. Many constellations danced around in the sky, but one stood out in particular. A straight line of stars that pointed straight at Equestria. Those stars now left a gateway for Nightmare Moon to go through. She left the shield up for King Sombra and Selena to breathe.
When Princess Celestia was taken care of, she'd send them down. Nightmare Moon had mere hours ago left to settle the matter. King Sombra had wanted to come along, but Nightmare Moon wouldn't allow it. “No, King Sombra. We need you to look after our daughter for us.
No pony else is capable of protecting her from Princess Celestia.” He chewed his lip on that. Yes, he had beat Celestia. But her younger sister had struck him with the elements, unknowingly banishing him to the moon. He had once asked Nightmare Moon about her.
“Luna? Ah yes. She was a cute little thing. I knew her very well indeed. But no, she's gone.
Celestia killed her.” It was sad really. Such a young thing she was. Would of changed the world. His ear suddenly twitched.
He turned from reading the stars to see what was making the odd noise. Selena had gotten down from her bed, and was sitting on the carpet floor. She was looking at the shield with worried eyes that were filled to the brim with tears. He turned to her and went over to her. “What's wrong, Selena?”
He asked sitting down next to her. Selena sniffled, and brushed a hoof across her face. “I went asleep and had a dream that Mommy was hurt.” Tears were now flowing freely down her cheeks. King Sombra gave Selena a reassuring nuzzle.
“Don't worry Selena, your mother shall be fine.” Even though, King Sombra himself was getting anxious about how long this was taking. Selena nodded slowly, and gave a long yawn. King Sombra smiled, and lifted her back onto the bed. Selena snuggled down into the blankets, and closed her eyes.
After giving her one last pat, King Sombra turned back to the stars…
Nightmare Moon watched the little purple unicorn in front of her. She, and five other ponies had passed everything she had placed before them. But now. Nightmare Moon was going to win. The Elements of Harmony were now sitting in front of her in their cases of ball shaped stone tombs.
The unicorn watched her as well. Then with a snort she lowered her horn and charged. Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow and sniffed. “Really? You're kidding me right?”
But the unicorn wasn't kidding. She was charging. Nightmare Moon charged right at her. But just as they were about to meet…The unicorn disappeared into a flash of purple sparks.
Nightmare Moon screeched to a halt. Wait, what? She turned around to see that the unicorn was trying to activate the stone balls that contained the Elements of Harmony. “No!” She evaporated into blue smoke, and flew over to the unicorn.
They broke into little pieces. Nightmare Moon gave an inside sigh of relief, and outside laughed loudly. “Now, the night shall last forever!!!” She screamed. “She had won!”
The unicorn stared, all hope lost. But as she watched the unicorn heard the concerned shouts of the five other ponies. A spark ignited inside the unicorn. She gave a speech to Nightmare Moon about how each pony had proven themselves. As each pony was spoken, a necklace appeared for that said pony.
“They were the recently smashed Elements! They were appearing on the ponies!…They were lifting into the air!…Rainbow colored light was pouring everywhere!” Nightmare Moon's heart thudded with panic.
She was going to die. “Oh no! Selena and Sombra will be left all alone!” She glanced at the moon. She could leave, but that would mean the rainbow light would head to the moon. It would shatter the shield cutting off Selena's life force…
“No! That shall not happen!” With the last pieces of magic inside, she activated the shield. As the last tendrils of magic left her, the rainbows hit. Pain.
Nothing but pain. Agonizing pain. But as she was torn apart by the rainbows, she watched as the spell sent itself to the moon…
She blinked, confused. “What just happened?” She wondered. Then the sun came, and with it her sister. Princess Celestia made a speech to her, explaining everything.
As she explained, the memories came back. She embraced Celestia, begging for forgiveness. As she did so, she wondered. “Am I forgetting something?” She eventually decided that she wasn't, and eagerly awaited Celestia's answer…
Selena bounced on her hooves, excited to be reuniting with her mother. King Sombra held her steady as they flew through the air, entering the land. Selena oohed at all the beauty she saw for the very first time. The fresh air that was made from plants, instead of magic. They landed on the cold floor of the ruined palace.
But it was empty. Selena's grin started to fade. “Sombra? Where is she?” King Sombra's head was turning around.
“I don't know. She should be here.” Selena and King Sombra searched the palace, calling for her. She never answered. Selena's eyes filled with tears.
“S-sombra? You don't think that my dream…came true, do you?” King Sombra hung his head. “…It looks that way right now.” Selena gasped.
“No.” Her tears fell down her cheeks. “No.” They entered a courtyard. In it, were the remains of Nightmare Moon's armor.
“No!” Selena's scream echoed throughout the palace. For hours, she knelt next to the armor. She wept. Even King Sombra shed a tear or two.
Selena finally stood, after quite some time. She dragged a hoof across her face. “I will avenge you, my mother.” She spoke, eyes narrowing. King Sombra laid his head on her shoulders.
“And I will help you achieve that goal.” In the courtyard, two ponies swore an oath to avenge Nightmare Moon…A year later, Selena stood in front of the cracked statue of Discord. Three small fillies had argued causing it to crack. But it didn't free him fully.
She would fix that. Using her budding powers, she freed him. He fell to the ground, unconscious. Selena evaporated away, going back to King Sombra. “Step one of revenge is complete...”
Author's Note
This is the last chapter of the story. But no, I'm not giving up on Selena just yet. She will make a reappearance in my other stories, exacting revenge. It shall be up to the Main Six to solve them! But if King Sombra was in the moon, how will he be in the Crystal Empire? I shall tell you, in due time...