A Thousand Moons

by Calligraphy Legends

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sad, Princess Luna, Drama, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Nightmare Moon
Length: 5309

A thousand moons is a long time to be imprisoned, what if you weren't actually alone? Was Luna really all alone?

We all know that Luna was stuck on the moon for a thousand years and we know why, but what did she do there? What if she got there and was trapped not as Nightmare Moon, but as Princess Luna? What if she wasn't alone? What if she found this entire other part of her and her magic that she never knew existed?

(Find full cover image here. Available as a wallpaper.)

Published 2016-05-02 04:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-05-02 04:50:01 UTC

Full Story

Silence. It was all that existed in the cool darkness. What should have been frigid was actually quite comfortable. Stars shimmered everywhere, glittering in the sky, the sun radiating with life after hours of darkness. The great land where life existed now shone in the proper light, and the glowing moon moved softly away. An alicorn laid on the face of the moon. The black drained away from her coat, revealing one of dark blue, her mane slowed from its frenzied cloud and returned to a soft mimic of the sky. Frosty blue armor lay around her, shattered. The bold purple and blue cutie mark, faded back to one of black and white. She blinked open her eyes. For a moment they were cat-like with a neon mint-teal vibrancy, but they quickly changed to her gentle and loving, deep teal eyes.

“Wh-where am I?” the blue alicorn spoke softly into the darkness. She pulled herself up and took in her surroundings.

“What happened?” her strong voice asked the emptiness. The memories came back in a flood. Tears soon streamed down her face of shock.

“The moon...” she gasped, “Tia...the Elements...the Nightmare, me… Oh Tia, I’m so sorry...”

She bowed her head into the soft surface of the moon, tears silently fell from her cheeks. As she lay there, a little white filly crept towards her. The filly had a white coat, silver eyes, and a braided, silver mane and tail. The filly also had a tiny silver moon and star on her cheek. Her cutie mark was a turquoise treble clef with silver stars swirling around it. She moved tentatively towards the newcomer.

“Hello?” the little filly finally said in a lullaby like voice.

“Celestia?” Luna’s head shot up, she knew it was not her sister’s voice, but still, she hoped…

“Sorry, no.”

“Oh, who are you? How did you-”

“I’m Starsong. Are-are you the Princess of the Night?”

“Y-yes,” Luna was taken aback by the little filly. Curious, she quickly stood up. “Where am I?”

“The moon, Princess.”

“Call me Luna.”

“Come with me,” Starsong said and dashed away.

Luna cantered after Starsong, determined to not be alone. Starsong jumped over a large craters edge and Luna rushed to its side. She thought she would find the little filly falling to her doom, but instead she found Starsong floating down on a cloud of silver. Luna spread her wings and followed her down, down into the crater. As they neared the bottom, Luna began to notice something odd. She quickly realized that on the surface of the moon’s crater was buildings, each one looking as if it had grown out of the moon's surface. Dozens of mares, fillies, stallions, colts, and foals roamed about. Each with the same silver moon and star marking on their cheeks. They soon spotted the pair and raced to meet them where they were landing. When Luna touched the surface, the ponies had gathered around her; the only similarities between them were that they were all soft, light colors with the strange markings on their cheeks.

“Everypony,” Starsong’s clear, song-like voice rang out over the crowd. The whispers vanished as quickly as if she had blown out a candle light. “This is Princess Luna, the Princess of the Night.”

“Starsong,” Luna said, turning to the filly, “what is going on?”

“We have been waiting for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes, The Night Queen knew one day you would come to us. We must teach you what she taught us.”

“What? ‘The Night Queen’? Who is that?”

“That is The Night Queen,” Starsong said, nodding behind Luna. “Artemis.”

Luna turned and was shocked at what stood before her. A great statue radiating power, though it was not too large in height it stood out boldly being that it was carved of precious gems. The mare stood tall and proud, but a kind look was on her face. Her coat shimmered in midnight blue, outstretched wings glittering with tiny dots of stars. Her mane and tail flowed down gently, fading from midnight blue to black and glittering with stars. Her eyes were like liquid moonlight and they seemed to know what everypony was thinking. She wore a crown made of silver with a sapphire set into it, her shoes and neck wear were also a gleaming silver. Luna recognized her face, but she had to be sure. She looked to her cutie mark, the silver North Star shone brightly against the blue. Tears stung Luna’s eyes.

Mother, Luna thought. You knew this would happen...What do you have planned for me?
Luna stopped the tears and turned to Starsong.

“My mother came here?” Luna demanded to know.

“Yes, Luna,” Starsong answered, unafraid of the powerful alicorn.

“Then teach me what I am to learn.”

“Mh-hm,” Starsong nodded.

Luna later found herself in a large library with a domed roof. Light radiated from a small star in the center of the ceiling. The library wasn’t fancy like the ones back in Equestria, but it was filled with more books than her and Celestia held in their library. More books than Luna had ever seen in one place.

“Luna, this is Lunar Quill,” Starsong said.

“Princess,” Lunar Quill said. She had a lavender coat, pale blue eyes, and a short, straight, white mane and tail, her mane tied up in a messy bun. She had a quill tucked behind her ear and her Cutie mark was a crescent moon with a dark blue quill; she too had the silver moon and star on her cheek, just below her right eye.

“Call me Luna,” Luna said.

“Luna,” Lunar Quill seemed out of her element in calling the princess by her first name.

“We need to teach Luna what The Night Queen taught us,” Starsong said.

Luna was impressed with the little fillies boldness and the respect she had earned from the other ponies.

“Of course,” Lunar Quill said. “I’ll lead you to the Sky Room. And, P-Luna, if you should ever need help in finding a book, I'm always around."

The three trotted through the rows of books, Luna noticed only a few familiar ones, most were titles by authors she had never heard of. They arrived in the back where an ivory door stood. Lunar Quill nudged it a little and stepped back.

“I’ll be shelving books if you need me,” Lunar Quill said as she walked away.

The small room simply glowed with power, radiating a magical essence. The rounded room had a slightly domed roof, the ceiling and walls mimicked the night sky to perfection. A table sat holding some parchment and quills in the center of the room. The mare and filly took to opposite sides of the table.

“Tell me about your kind,” Luna commanded. “And this place.”

“Of course,” Starsong nodded. “We are Dreams.”

“Dreams?”

“We, like you and unicorns, have magic that we can project. It allows us to, if we are destined that is, either create dreams for everypony, or enter nightmares of fillies and colts and advise them. In the dreams we can take the form of other living things to help guide them until the time is right to speak with them directly.”

“So, if you make the dreams, who makes the nightmares?”

“You catch on quick. They are made by Nightmares, our...frenemies.”

“Your ‘frenemies’?” Luna shot Starsong a look that simply read ‘Are you kidding me?’

“We have a mutual understanding, but they are our opposites. You can imagine that we do not always get along. However, that doesn't happen very often, at least not in large ways. They live on the other side of the moon, you will meet them later.”

“I see, so what do you want to teach me?”

“Well, almost everypony here either learns to create dreams or to dream walk. You are to learn both along with how to create nightmares.”

“Why?”

“We have no idea, we are just doing what was asked of us.”

“Tell me more about this Dream Making and Dream Walking.”

“Soon to come, first I want to tell you what has happened to your home since you, ah, left.”

Luna bowed her head in shame, but nodded Starsong on.

“After Celestia sent you here, she restored order to your planet; returning the Sun and Moon to their proper places. She told everypony that you were vanquished. She has hidden the elements away and I believe that they, along with NIghtmare Moon, will become nothing but a legend. She has taken on the responsibility of both day and night, now she mourns.”

“This is all my fault…”

“You were destined to come here, how it happened was unfortunate.”

“That’s putting things lightly.”

“Please come with me and I will teach you all about Dream Making and Dream Walking.”

Luna soon found herself in a large, square building with arched windows.

“This is Dream Hall,” Starsong explained, trotting along with the princess. “It consists of three floors. This first floor is the information floor, here ponies gather information on fillies and colts. They study their likes and dislikes, their families, fears, everything on them. They then create a file for the colt or filly.”

They trotted past rooms where ponies were busy working. Luna stopped for a moment to watch a stallion at work. The table in the center displayed a foal, he used his mysterious magic to scan the foal. Nothing changed, but he seemed to know something new. He then proceeded to write the information he collected.

“What happens if things for them change over time?” Luna asked Starsong.

“That’s why one Dream Maker is assigned each filly or colt,” she explained as they trotted up the stairs. “They get to know them and, if things change, they make note so they will not forget. This second floor is the Dream Maker floor. Here is where dreams are created and sent out to the ponies when they fall asleep.”

Luna looked into a room where a mare was setting down a file she had just studied. She began creating an elaborate world that was similar to Cloudsdale. Luna watched in fascination as she added ponies and animals to it. The mare was still creating the dream when Starsong nudged Luna along.

"This room here is where we create dreams for foals," the white filly explained. "They are not assigned to anypony until they are about two or three, so some Dreams are specially tasked with making dreams for the babies."

“This last floor,” Starsong said as they reached the top, “is home to our Dream Walkers. The ponies here first observe the Nightmare, assess what is happening, then enter the dream and try to help the filly or colt.”

“So,” Luna said tentatively; a question had been bugging her since they had arrived in Dream Hall. “Why do you have Nightmares if you are just going to guide them through it?”

“The Nightmares allow us to help them learn lessons. While their Dreams are used more for escapes and pleasure.”

“How do you decide if they need a Dream or Nightmare?”

“That is left to a mysterious higher power. If they need a Dream, their file with their Dream Maker will have a silver moon on it. If they need a Nightmare, their file will have a black moon on it.”

“Do they always listen to their Dream Walker?”

“Not always, but we still try.”

“What do you do when they become grown?” Luna inwardly flinched as she thought of some of the nightmares she had had as a mare.

“Sometimes nightmares are still sent to them, but they are old enough to see the lessons on their own. I believe it is time for you to meet the Nightmares.”

Later on, Luna was flying over the surface of the moon; Starsong floated next to her on a silver cloud. They reached the crest of the moon and everything changed. The stars seemed dimmer, the Moon’s surface became obsidian, and the air was frigid cold.

“Yeah, this place is a bit different,” Starsong said, as if she could read Luna’s mind.

Luna just nodded and they continued on over the onyx territory. Starsong soon floated down into a crater, Luna followed. It was similar to the Dreams home, but not the same. The buildings were ebony and were a wide variety of shapes and sizes, still, everypony seemed happy in the realm of the Nightmares. Luna noted that all of them had dark coats and manes, she could just make out the silver moon and star marking (below their left eye rather than their right) as they neared the ground. They touched down outside of a large building, everypony watching them. Starsong trotted inside as if she were visiting a friend, Luna followed behind her.

“Starsong,” a very young ebony stallion with a platinum gray mane and tail said happily, he would have been considered handsome by most mares standards. He had oddly golden eyes and his cutie mark was of a golden mask. “What do I owe the pleasure?”

“Sunillusion,” Starsong responded, shaking her head at his theatrical bow. “This is Princess Luna.”

“Ah, Princess,” Sunillusion said. “So, you are here at last.”

“Call me Luna,” Luna said in an almost cold tone.

“As you wish,” he turned to Starsong. “Shall we get on with the tour?”

“Lead the way,” Starsong answered.

“This is our information floor,” Sunillusion explained. “We gather the same information that Dreams do. You know, fears, family, etc. etc.”

Luna nodded and they quickly went up to the second floor.

“Here is where our Nightmare Makers work,” Sunillusion said as they stopped at a window to watch a mare at work.

She created a dark and monstrous world, Luna noted that she seemed to be taking careful time on a timberwolf. Luna watched as she added horror to the elaborate world.

A part of her wanted to scream at the mare to stop, to not send such a horrid dream to a young filly or colt. She was reminded of every nightmare she had as a filly, every night she woke up shaking. Then, she remembered the day her nightmares won. Today. The day she no longer had controlled over her mind or body because she was so overtaken by anger and rage.

She pulled her gaze away and said to Starsong:
“Why have we come here? You could have told me this.”

“You needed to see all of our world,” Starsong said. “This is a part of it. Remember, it is all about balance. Without balance, there is only discord. There must be balance between good and evil, nightmare and dream, work and play, sun and moon.”

Luna dropped her gaze, Starsong’s words echoed in her mind. Balance. Luna had thought she understood what that meant, but she had been wrong. Balance didn’t always mean everypony would be happy or appreciated. It didn’t mean things would always be fair. It meant that their world would not fall to pieces because neither could ever truly rule over the other.

“When can you start teaching me, Starsong?” Luna asked.

“As soon as we get back,” Starsong said, smiling.

“Let me know if you ladies need anything,” Sunillusion said. “I’ll be here if you need to find me.”

After a tour of the city, Luna found herself back in that round room with Starsong.

“We are going to begin with how to Dream Walk,” Starsong said. “We won’t be interacting in this dream, we’ll merely be observing.”

“Can we do that?” Luna questioned.

“I can, and I can take you along. This is how I train fillies and colts who wish to become Dream Walkers and Makers. Are you ready?”

Luna nodded. Starsong closed her eyes and, in a moment, she felt a cold whisp of air encircling her. Luna closed her eyes against the wind and it was the oddest feeling. She felt like she was tumbling through time and space, moving in an odd and mysterious fashion that almost felt like she was being reshaped. Finally, it stopped. Leaves crunched beneath her hooves and she opened her eyes. Starsong stood next to her. They were on a hill, hidden behind bushes and trees, overlooking a dark forest in the late fall.

“We are in a colts dream, his name is Magic Flier,” Starsong explained. “The stallion who will be entering his dream is named Starlight. Watch closely.”

Luna watched as the colt ran from a living tree. His path was cut off by a rock, he leaned against it. His eyes wide with fear. The tree continued to approach him, it’s shadow looming. In a millisecond, there was the smallest flicker of light. When the tree reached Magic Flier, it was now a stallion. Luna realized that it must have been Starlight. Luna listened to their conversation, noting how Starlight was kind and gentle, but honest with Magic.

“Time to go,” Starsong told Luna. Luna closed her eyes and felt that same feeling as they left the dream and went back to the small room.

Over the weeks to come, Luna studied Dream Walking and Dream Making. When she wasn’t studying with Starsong, she was researching in the library. Finally, the day came for her to perform Dream Making and Dream Walking.

“Okay Luna,” Starsong said. “I will be watching you from here.”

“O-okay,” Luna stammered, her heart beat violently in her chest.

“You’ll do fine.”

Luna nodded and walked into the room. She flipped open the file. The Dream she was going to make was for a colt named Igneous. He lived on a rock farm with his family, he liked making sculptures, and there was tons of more information. It was noted that he loved his family and their rock farm, that sparked an idea in Luna’s head. She began creating his family's rock farm, referring to the picture as needed. She included amazing sculptures and a buffet of pies. Since pies were his favorite food. After a time, her work was finished. Now came the hard part, she had to send the dream to Igneous. Luna closed her eyes and focused hard on Igneous. When she opened them, the scene was gone. Luna looked to Starsong who gave a small nod, a smile on her face. Luna breathed a sigh of relief and her heart fluttered. She had created a dream.

“I did it!” Luna said, happily skipping out of the room.

“Well done,” Starsong praised. “Follow me, it is time for your next test.”

“Oh, right,” Luna said, she had nearly forgotten they still had to test her on dream walking and nightmare making.

Time had passed on the moon. Luna was now an expert at both Dream Making and Dream Walking. She had met many colts and fillies, and had many friends come and go. Starsong remained, however. The young filly remained, well, a young filly. Sunillusion also stayed the same. This sparked curiosity in Luna and, one day, she finally found the courage to ask.

“Do you two ever age?” Luna asked the two. The three of them had met to discuss a few things at Luna’s favorite cafe on the light side of the moon.

“My sister and I do not age,” Sunillusion said calmly.

“Sister?!” Luna coughed, nearly choking on her water.

“Yes,” Starsong said calmly. “Actually, we are twins.”

“WHAT?!” Luna gasped.

“It’s complicated but we were decided to be the eternal leaders of each side of the moon. We can be whatever age we choose and I prefer this age, I feel it’s more relatable to the young fillies and colts I train.”

“I prefer this age personally,” Sunillusion said. “I do look quite handsome in this state.”

Luna just stared at them, mouth agape. Her teal eyes went from one to the other, her brain was racing yet frozen all at once. The clock chimed and snapped Luna out of her state of shock.

“I have to go,” Luna said quickly. It wasn’t a lie, she had to go do a Dream Walk really quickly. However, the princess was glad for an excuse to leave and gather her thoughts.

She trotted up to the third floor into her Dream Walking room. She flipped open the file and saw that she would be Dream Walking in Mid-Knights dream; a colt who dreamed of being a castle guard. It appeared that he was angry with his parents because he was going to have a new little sister soon and he didn’t want any siblings.

Luna quickly created a nightmare (as she had also learned how to create nightmares, despite her hatred of them) and sent it off to the young colt. Luna then closed her eyes and felt that same feeling she felt the first time with Starsong, and every time since, as she was pulled into his dream. She was hovering in the sky overlooking Mid-Knights nightmare. He was in the middle of Mustang, the small town Mid-Knight lived in. Except, everyone was gone. All the buildings were deserted and there was no sign of life. It was his greatest fear, being alone. He walked shakily through the town, Luna could tell his body was going into a panic.

“Hello?” he half sobbed. “Is anyone there? Somepony, anypony?”

Luna flew down to the colt as he collapsed into a soft sob. She walked quietly and gently up to the little colt. He looked up at the princess and ran to her.

“I thought I was alone!” Mid-Knight cried.

“It’s alright, Mid-Knight,” Luna spoke with gentle kindness as she comforted him. Luna always had a soft spot for young ones. “You’re safe.”

“How do you know my name? Who are you?”

“My name is Luna, and I am your guardian.” They were all told to tell them that they are their guardians.

“Guardian?”

“I’m here to help you. Walk with me.”

Luna walked through the town and Mid-Knight trotted right beside her. He was quiet for a moment, but then he was buzzing with questions.

“What do I need help with?” he spoke with the wild curiosity of all young ones. “Am I in trouble? Where are you from? Does everypony have a guardian?”

“Are you done asking questions?” Luna asked calmly.

“Yes.”

“I am here to talk to you because I understand that you are going to be a big brother. Is this correct?”

“Yeah, but I don’t wanna be one.”

“And why not?”

“Why would I want a little sister?”

“You know, I’m a little sister.”

“I-I-”

“It’s okay. So, what are you afraid is going to change?”

“What if my parents don’t love me anymore?”

“They will always love you.”

“How can you tell?”

“Because love is like...love is like the night sky.”

“The night sky?” the young colt cocked his head like a dog does when he becomes confused.

“Yes.” Luna sighed a little thinking of all the times she had arranged beautiful new constellations. “It goes on forever, and with each new star that fills it, it becomes even more beautiful.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll understand when you’re older, all you need to know is that love is forever. It will never end.”

“So, should I give my little sister a chance before I decide how I feel?”

“Yes, that would be a very wise choice.”

“Okay, thanks Luna.”

“You are welcome, Mid-Knight.”

“Will I see you again?”

“One day.”

With that, Luna left the colt as he awoke back at his home. Luna appeared back in the room, little time had passed in her absence.

Luna had nearly completed her time in imprisonment, just a couple more years. Luna was no longer taking on new fillies and colts, she was remaining with the ones she had so they would all be grown by the time she left. She wouldn’t be able to continue creating dreams for them, but she already had a few stallions and mares set to take them on. Luna was lying in the library, reading one of her favorite books on the history of Dreams. The clock striked and echoed throughout the city. Luna gently set down the book and snuck back to the room Starsong had taken her to when she first arrived. She first created a dream of a lovely meadow with a waterfall. Once the dream was sent off, she closed her eyes. The familiar sensation of entering a dream washed over her and she appeared in the meadow scene. She heard hooves and turned. Out walked a handsome stallion. He had a platinum colored coat, bright blue eyes, and midnight blue mane and tail. His cutie mark was a white knight's shield with a dark blue crescent moon. His horn gleamed in the light.

“A waterfall,” he commented, “Nice touch.”

“Hello Mid-Knight,” Luna said.

Yes, Luna still visited Mid-Knight. One night, when she dream walked, she had to tell him that he would never see her again. However, he convinced her to continue to visit him. Now, Mid-Knight was an adult; he had been for several years. He and Luna had developed feelings for each other, but they never spoke of them. He had changed so much over the years, and Luna couldn’t help have feelings for such a sweet, brave, and kind stallion. Luna trotted over and greeted Mid-Knight.

“How was your day?” Luna asked as the two lounged beside the waterfall.

“Oh the usual,” Mid-Knight said casually. “Guarded the castle, nopony tried to do anything, I got promoted to the elite guard, and-”

“The elite guard?” Luna perked up.

“Oh, you know, Celestia’s specially selected guards whom she trusts to protect her in all situations.”

“You seriously got promoted?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“That’s fantastic!”

“Kind of, yeah.”

Luna laughed, she knew how much he wanted to be part of the elite guard.

“So, how was your day?” Mid-Knight asked her.

“It was good,” Luna said. “And don’t ask for details of my day because you know I can’t tell you.”

“I know, I know.”

They sat there talking for what felt like forever, then Luna had to go. They said half hearted goodbyes and Luna melted away with the dream. She appeared back in the room in the library, snuck out, and went back to the book she was reading as if she had never left. However, the growl of her stomach made her realize she was indeed hungry.

“Hello Luna,” Starsong said as she trotted up to her.

“Hi Starsong,” Luna replied, continuing her mission toward the cafe.

“What have you been up to?” Starsong asked.

“Not much,” Luna answered. Yes, Luna was lying to everypony. Including her best friend.

As time passed on, Luna and Mid-Knight’s relationship seemed to be okay. Until that fateful night.

“Today Clesestia was-” Mid-Knight began, but stopped as Luna let out a deep sigh. “What’s wrong?”

“Celestia is all you ever talk about anymore!” Luna half yelled.

“Well I’m kind of around her a lot,” Mid-Knight said innocently.

“Exactly! I never see you anymore.”

“At least I haven’t broken the rules, I know we aren’t supposed to see each other anymore! I know you were suppose to stop coming years ago!”

“I come back because you ask me to!”

“Maybe I don’t want to see you anymore!”

“Than why do you ask me to return?!”

“Because I love you!” Mid-Knight’s eyes grew wide and he clamped his mouth shut.

“I love you too…” Luna whispered, her cheeks flushing and her eyes glancing at the ground.

“If you truly loved me, you wouldn’t be so upset with me over nothing!”

“No, Mid-Knight, please I-I didn’t mean to-”

“That’s it, we’re through! I don’t want to hear any of your lies! Get out of my dream and never come back!”

“Mid-Knight, please, don’t-”

“Leave, now!”

“Goodbye Mid-Knight…”

Luna closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was soon whisked out of his dream and back in the library. Tears were pouring down her cheeks and a tiny voice in the back of her mind began to speak.

“Even in your own territory Celestia is the most beloved,” the wicked voice said.

“No, no, it’s not her fault,” Luna thought. “I shouldn’t have been so upset, Mid-Knight was right.”

“Right? He was beyond wrong! The ponies of Equestria have forgotten the power of the Night! They have forgotten you!”

“It’s understandable, I’ve been gone for nearly a thousand years.” The more Luna communicated with the voice, the more crazed her expression became.

“Understandable?!” The voice was growing more dominant in Luna’s mind. “They do not love you, and nopony will care when you return! Remember your power Luna!”

“No, I have vowed not to use that power again!”

The voice continued to scream in her head as she raced to find Starsong. She ran to the town square and spotted Starsong and Sunillusion.

“Help, please!” Luna yelled. “I can’t stop h-” She was cut off by a dark and foreboding laugh escaping her lips.

Her coat turned from blue to black, her mane and tail became smoky, fangs grew in her mouth, she soon wore armor that seemed to melt out of her coat. When she opened her eyes, she revealed glowing, cat-like eyes. The laugh of Nightmare Moon echoed throughout the city of Dreams. The Dreams backed away in fright, but Starsong and Sunillusion cantered up to her.

“Luna please, see reason!” Starsong pleaded. “You don’t have to become Nightmare Moon!”

“Luna is no more!” Nightmare Moon laughed with the eyes of a maniac.

“No!” Sunillusion said. “I can sense goodness inside of you, it is faint but there.”

“Your precious Princess will never return!” Nightmare Moon said, she then turned menacingly towards the Dreams. “Who should I practice my magic on…”

“No!” Starsong yelled. “Now, Sunillusion!”

Starsong and Sunillusion soon glowed with magic, it flickered and danced around them. The magical energy soon crackled in the air as the twins called upon their full powers. Streams of magic were soon flying straight towards Nightmare Moon, but she had the reflexes of a feline. She easily resisted them, pushing them back. Her eyes glowed with a crazed thrill, she knew that these two were all that stood in her way of truly ruling the moon. And she knew she could defeat them with ease.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the statue of Artemis began to glow. A glittering stream of magic, that looked as if it were a part of the night sky itself, soon shot from her horn and straight at Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon may have been powerful, but she was no match for the raw magic of an alicorn queen.

She pushed against their magic, calling on every ounce of dark magic she had coursing through her veins. Starsong was being pushed back by the force of the magic, her small body not strong enough to hold against it. Sunillusion wrapped his tail behind her, trying his utmost to hold her steady. However, even he with his strong frame was having difficulty. The enchanted statue of precious gems stood tall and strong, a burst of magic shot from her horn and created a blast of magical energy.

The villain was blown out of the crater that held the city and to another part of the moon. Sunillusion teleported back to the city of the Nightmares. Artemis’ statue placed powerful, protective shields around both cities; Sunillusion and Starsong adding their own shields to their cities.

“No matter,” Nightmare Moon hissed from across the moon. She had mere days before her return to Equestria. “Did you miss me, Tia?”

Author's Note

Artemis is my head cannon character idea for Celestia and Luna's mother, I'm sorry if she doesn't fit your head cannons. Can't blame a girl for trying, right?