Who Rules?: The Ascended

Author's Note:

Just a quick note: This chapter gets a little dark. Not so much that I wanted to add the Grim tag,

but there are a few dark spots, so...be warned.

Who Rules?: The Ascended

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Six

“Run.” Celestia stood as ably as she could, facing straight at Nightmare Moon, though her command was clearly directed at Twilight Sparkle.

“I’m not going to leave you, princess,” she responded.

“It wasn’t a request, Twilight. I need you to leave this very moment,” Celestia said firmly.

“Oh no, Twilight, please do stay,” Nightmare Moon walked casually around the the large, round bed, Celestia staying between her and Twilight. “It will save me the trouble of tracking you down later.”

“Twilight! Go! Now!” Celestia turned to Twilight for a moment, emphasizing her point. The unicorn balked for a moment, and then turned and sprinted out of the columned temple, leaving the two alicorns behind.

“I could stop her, you realize,” Nightmare Moon smirked.

“This isn’t about her. This is about us. It has always been about us,” Celestia answered.

“It was about us, but then you brought her and her friends into it. Now they must be punished for their actions, too. Another life you have ruined, Celestia.”

“They are some of the finest ponies I have every known, Luna. They are selfless and courageous beyond belief. You would do well to remember that,” Celestia answered with pride.

Nightmare Moon stopped her pacing, looking up at Celestia as she stood on the bed. Her face contorted into a smile. “Luna? Really? I think you have me confused with somepony else.”

“No, I do not. You are my sister. You are Luna,” she replied.

“So, now you are accusing your sister of trying to usurp your throne and not Nightmare Moon? Didn’t you recently say something exactly contrary to that fact?”

“At the time I was uninformed,” Celestia answered. “I didn’t know what you had gone through. What had happened to you. Now I understand. And I know that Luna is still there, fighting to free herself from your control.”

“And if I were to tell you that Luna gave me control? That she stepped aside so that I could rise to power once more?” Nightmare Moon smiled.

“Then I would know that she had faith in me and the Elements to free her from your control,” Celestia answered confidently.

“Faith in you? You are the reason that I exist!” Nightmare Moon spat.

“I know,” Celestia answered softly. “Both then and now. Jealousy powers you, and I allowed Luna to feel jealous, not fully understanding what was happening. And for that, I am sorry.”

“Sorry? SORRY?!” She moved up to the bed, standing inches away from the white alicorn. “Do you think that pity can save you from what I am going to do? I want nothing more than to see you broken and at my hooves, begging me for mercy.”

“I have already done that to Luna,” she answered. “But I did so out of love, not fear. I allowed myself to be there because I trust you, Luna. I always have and I always will.”

“Then I suppose you have a new sensation coming to you soon,” Nightmare Moon sneered. “You will beg me for your life, Celestia. Out of fear.”

“You know that I won’t do that, little sister,” she answered confidently.

“I TOLD YOU TO NEVER CALL ME THAT!” Spit flew from Nightmare Moon’s mouth as she yelled.

Celestia smiled. “Yes, you did...Luna.”

Nightmare Moon stamped her hoof up onto the bed, directly in front of Celestia. “Kiss it!” she commanded. “Kiss it and swear loyalty to me forever and I shall make your pain minimal.”

“Gladly,” Celestia answered. “After you have been driven from Luna’s body, demon.”

“You will bow down to me, Celestia! To me, not Luna! First you, and then soon enough, your student!”

“NEVER!”

The pitch of the night became darker. Cold air standing still around both beings as they remained steadfast, neither giving ground or moving. Finally, Nightmare Moon pulled her hoof from the bed, placing back onto the smooth stone flooring as she looked at Celestia once more with a smile.

“You know that you do not have the strength to fight me right now,” Nightmare Moon said.

“And you know that will not stop me from doing so,” Celestia answered.

The glow that surrounded Nightmare Moon’s horn was all the warning that Celestia needed. Her own horn came to life, releasing a burst of white energy that was met by a beam of perfect black that escaped from her foe’s horn. They met perfectly, colliding with enough force to shake the foundation of the new temple.

The accuracy of Nightmare Moon’s statement became perfectly evident immediately. Celestia’s white energy was forced back, threatening to overwhelm the princess. Experience taught her well, though, and she knew all she could do was slow down the attack long enough to give her time to prepare a proper defense. Nightmare Moon’s black energy slammed into a shield of perfect white, shattering the barrier on impact, but also dissipating the assault.

The second energy beam that followed was totally unexpected by Nightmare Moon. Golden white power struck the midnight body and sent the would-be usurper flying backwards. Before her body touched ground she transformed into a deep purple mist that swirled about the room, twisting in and around the columns that served as the walls to the temple. Celestia watched the mist, doing her best to anticipate where the mare would reappear, and hoping that her enemy did not see her stagger from exertion or notice the depth of each breath.

“I am impressed, Celestia,” the voice came from her right, and she turned to face it, “I didn’t think that you would be able to put up any sort of fight.”

“I fight for Equestria and for Luna,” she said. “I will never stop fighting.”

“Oh, I think you will,” Nightmare Moon smirked, “because you have forgotten one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I cheat.” The illusion of Nightmare Moon faded as the voice behind her spoke. Celestia felt the horn pierce her flesh, driving deep into the point where her neck met her body. The pain was notable, but the shock of the moment overwhelmed it easily.

Celestia collapsed onto the bed as Nightmare Moon moved to stand above her. The teal eyes of the mare stared down as Celestia tried to regain her footing.

“Wh-what did you do?” She fought her own body, sliding off the bed and stumbling to her hooves. She turned around, ready to summon her magic for another attack--but no magic responded.

“I put a block on your arcana cortex. It’s that small node that controls the flow of magic between the mind and body. I had a thousand years to think about this moment. I know every inch of pony physiology. I know how to cripple you.” Nightmare Moon stepped casually off the bed, moving towards the injured Celestia. “You’ll find that you don’t have enough magic to light a candle right now.”

Summoning all her will, Celestia tried to light her horn once more. She could feel the magic inside her, but it wasn’t obeying her commands. She was defenseless. It was time to switch tactics.

“I do not need magic to defeat you,” Celestia said, rising up to her full height. “Or are you too much a coward to face me mare-to-mare?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Nightmare Moon stopped, staring at the still defiant princess. “I’m bigger than you, stronger than you, and you’re already beaten. You can’t seriously want to do this.”

Celestia’s hoof dug at the floor. “I take it that means that you are a coward then?”

Narrowing her eyes, Nightmare Moon growled as much as spoke. “Still a bit of a wild mare, I see. I will enjoy breaking you, Celestia.”

She lowered her horn and snorted, staring across at Celestia who dug her hoof once more. They paused, watching each other, waiting for the other one to make the first step. Both would swear the other moved first, lurched forward for the attack. White moved against black, and black against white, covering the two dozen feet that separated them with dangerous speed.

To them that instant took forever. Every step was another calculation. Another direction and feint to disguise their true intention. By the time their horns met, the victor was already decided.

A thunderous crash of horns scraped along until the base of each spire met, and the loser was sent sprawling back in a tumultuous fall. She spilled across the floor, crashing against the massive bed with a noticeable thud. Raising her head, she shook off the cobwebs as the other mare approached once more.

“How? How is that possible?!” Nightmare Moon’s voice was fuming as she regained her hooves.

“You still don’t understand, do you?” Celestia was hiding the pain that coursed through her body. She didn’t have the magic to absorb the impact like Nightmare Moon. “Do you remember the last time we dueled? I told you then that I was holding back. That I didn’t want to hurt you. This is different. And I’m not fighting alone.”

“What are you talking about?” Nightmare Moon’s eyes began to glow in anger.

“Luna. Luna is fighting with me. She is fighting against you all the time. Together we are going to defeat you,” she stated.

Her lip curled up as Nightmare Moon’s horn flared to life. “I’m done with games,” she said. Chains of ebon night flew out of the shadows, wrapping around the princess and trapping Celestia, pinning her legs and wings in place. She struggled against them, only to find a cocoon of black surrounding her muzzle, straightening it to look directly at Nightmare Moon. A hoof struck Celestia squarely across the face, jerking it to the side. Another hoof sent it back the other direction. A trickle of blood snuck out from her lip as she once again turned to see Nightmare Moon glaring at her.

“Kiss my hoof.” Nightmare Moon presented the hoof, raising it to just below the trapped alicorn’s muzzle.

“You know I won’t,” she stated calmly. “Nothing you can do to me will change that.”

She curled her lip up to snarl, but it transformed before it could reach a peak of primal anger. “You know, you’re right,” she said with a twisted smile. “Nothing I do to you will matter. But what about your subjects? What about all of the ponies sleeping peacefully around Equestria right now? What would happen if, say, a sudden meteor shower were to rain down on Manehatten?”

For the first time Celestia’s face fell. “Y-you wouldn’t.”

“Thousands would die, Celestia. Of course, you could stop it. Normally, I would say that you could use your vast magical power to stop the meteors, but you can’t, can you?” She leaned in closer. “There is another way.”

The black hoof in a silver shoe found its way up to Celestia’s muzzle once more. “Kiss it. Do it, and no one dies tonight, Celestia. Submit to me and everypony will live. Defy me and thousands pay the price. Is that what you want?”

Celestia choked back her fears. “Do you give me your word that you will harm no other ponies?”

“Now, what would that be worth? We both know I am a liar. But if you do it, I won’t destroy Manehatten. Isn’t that enough? Now...” She waved the shoe-clad hoof in front of Celestia’s muzzle once more. “Kiss. My. Hoof.”

Celestia trembled, lowering her mouth slowly towards the hoof in front of her. “What I do, I do for the ponies of Equestria,” she said softly as her lips touched hoof.

Nightmare Moon’s eyes closed and her head reared back as the euphoria of the moment washed over her. She savored the sensation of the lips on her hoof for a moment before snapping her head back, her eyes glaring wide in gloating joy. The chains binding Celestia disappeared. “Now, onto the bed and on your knees! Do it!”

A solemn expression wore on Celestia’s face as she stepped onto the huge bed and lowered herself down to her knees, her eyes locked with Nightmare Moon’s and filled with the fire of defiance.

“Kiss the other one,” Nightmare Moon commanded as she, too, stepped onto the bed.

Hesitating only for a moment, Celestia lowered her head and brought her lips down to touch Nightmare Moon’s other hoof. The ebon mare didn’t wait for Celestia to rise back up. Grasping the white alicorn’s horn with her hoof, Nightmare Moon yanked the mare’s head up to stare directly into her eyes once again.

“You’ve lost, Celestia,” she gloated. “I could kill you right now. It would be easy. But that would just make you a martyr, and no pony likes a martyr. Instead, I think you would be best served as my slave. A reminder to everypony that I am the unquestioned ruler of Equestria.”

“I am not your slave,” Celestia answered coldly.

“Oh but you are. Or at least you have been, haven’t you? How many times have you called us Mistress? How many times have you done everything we’ve asked?”

“Luna, not you.”

“You say that I am Luna. That she is inside me. Well, then here is your chance to draw her out.” Nightmare Moon’s horn lit a deep purple glow. Instantly Celestia moaned out loud. “Oh, did I not tell you that the block I control on your arcana cortex also stimulates you? An alicorn’s magic is a highly sensitive thing, after all. I can turn you on instantly, Celestia. You are my toy.”

It was true. Celestia could feel her body betraying her, becoming aroused in the presence of this vile creature. She fought it off with all of her will. And then Nightmare Moon began to stroke Celestia’s horn.

“Aaaaaahh,” she cried out from the sudden sensation.

“Does that feel good?” Nightmare Moon asked mockingly. “Of course it does. It’s coming from my hoof. I will train you to think of my touch as the one thing that gives you pleasure. In time, you will crave nothing else, and will do anything in the hopes of my touch.”

“N-no,” Celestia moaned defiantly.

“Oh, please do fight it. It will make my victory that much sweeter.” Nightmare Moon released her hold on Celestia’s horn and began to walk around the mare. Celestia felt her head fall to the ground as the passion consumed her, her body refusing to obey her commands.

“Tonight isn’t about your pleasure, though,” Nightmare Moon said, taking up position behind the goddess. “Tonight is about my celebration. And my pleasure.”

Bringing her hoof up between Celestia’s legs, she roughly mauled the mare’s sex, eliciting another cry of surprise. The tone of Celestia’s voice sounded like pain, but the expression on her face was one of pure passion.

“You’re very wet, Celestia. Maybe you don’t even need my magical stimulation. Luna did a wonderful job of training you already, it seems.”

Silently, a transformation occurred in Nightmare Moon. Emerging from her own marehood, a massive penis grew to life from her clitoris. Far thicker and longer than any normal stallion, it commanded attention, a massive purple head on the end of a daunting black shaft. It was instantly fully erect and ready.

“Sadly, you cannot be trusted enough to perform on my sex with your mouth. So I will have to rely on a bit of familiar magic to make do for now.”

Lurching forward, Nightmare Moon mounted Celestia, bringing her magically endowed cock in line with the princess’ pussy. She rubbed the head against her opening, getting it slick and ready to enter. She leaned forward and spoke directly into Celestia’s ear.

“I have fantasized about your mouth on my cunt, whorse. About you whimpering as I ground myself against your muzzle. And that will happen soon enough. But for now I want you to feel my power as I force myself on you, taking what is rightfully mine.”

With a single thrust, Nightmare Moon impaled Celestia. Even with the amount of arousal Celestia was feeling, she wasn’t prepared for this, and her scream echoed throughout the temple.

“What’s the matter, whorse? Am I too big for you? Too powerful?” Nightmare Moon ground her hips into the other mare, emphasizing her point.

“There...is nothing...about you...that I cannot handle,” Celestia grunted in reply.

Nightmare Moon laughed and began to pull out of Celestia, only to once again drive herself into the mare with staggering force. The receiving mare only grunted once more, accepting the horse cock as it pounded into her. Nightmare Moon didn’t hesitate, pistoning herself out and back into Celestia once again as she began to fuck her in earnest.

“I am the best that you will ever have, whorse,” Nightmare Moon growled into her ear. “Better than you will ever deserve.”

“I have...already had...better,” Celestia answered, “you are just...stealing her body.”

“You will come to call me goddess!” Nightmare Moon yelled.

“And you...will come to realize...that you cannot win,” Celestia’s breath was becoming more ragged as Nightmare Moon’s cock continued to assault her. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, the combination of physical and magical stimulation was driving her closer and closer to orgasm.

And that’s when Nightmare Moon pulled out of her.

“You’re worthless cunt is far too used and tired for somepony of my stature,” she said. “I have another plan.”

Celestia felt the magical prick pushing against her tail hole.

“No! I...AAAHHHHH!” Her shrill scream almost drowned out Nightmare Moon’s laugh as she forced the massive cock into the goddess’ ass.

“That is much better,” Nightmare Moon said, rearing up above Celestia to get a better angle of thrust. “That should be sufficient to get me to cum.”

The only response from the sun goddess was a primal growl. Nightmare Moon responded by grabbing a hoof-full of Celestia’s mane and pulling on it for added leverage.

“Your ass truly is divine, dear sister,” Nightmare Moon said as she drove in and out rapidly. “I think that I will make this my special plaything. Use it for times that I truly want to celebrate.”

Celestia growled beneath her. Her anger was flaring, and at the moment it was directed at herself. There was no reason that she should be aroused, magic influence or not. But so help her, she was nearly mad with lust. Her body betrayed her and began to buck back against Nightmare Moon’s thrusts.

A deep laugh escaped from Nightmare Moon. “You like this, my little slut-toy? Do you want me to abuse you like this daily? You are going to have to prove your worth to me, I think. I want you to cum from me fucking your ass. Do you hear me, whorse?”

She said nothing, simply letting the black mare drive her magical cock deep into her ass with every thrust, driving her own hips back in rhythm to meet each stroke. The strength behind the thrusts drove Celestia deeper into the pillows that covered the round bed.

“Bring your hoof to your clit! I want you to cum. If you do not, I will violate one pony before your eyes for every second of defiance!”

Without hesitation Celestia brought her hoof to her own sex and began to massage her swollen clit. A moan of pleasure grew in her throat, even as she tried to fight it down.

“Yessss,” Nightmare Moon hissed. “Get to work, whorse! If you do not cum before I do, then a dozen others will be brought in to service me, and we both know how fragile those little ponies can be.”

Her hoof quickly was covered in the slick juices escaping her pussy. She began to move her hoof in time with the cock that was violating her ass, rubbing back and forth as the huge phallus penetrated her.

“Your ass is too good, Celestia,” Nightmare Moon growled. “I’m going to cum soon. You had better get to work.”

No sooner was it said than Celestia’s breath started to come in short, rapid takes, her hips bucking wildly, no longer able to keep in time with Nightmare Moon’s thrusts, and she came. Juices flowed from her pussy, drenching her hoof and covering her thighs as she continued to rub her clit, the horse cock still ramming into her ass. Her muscles contracted reflexively, tightening onto Nightmare Moon’s magical phallus and causing the first audible moan from that mare to carry through the room.

Yanking herself free from Celestia’s anal passage, Nightmare Moon quickly moved around in front of the white alicorn. She grasped Celestia’s horn and yanked her face up, putting it directly in line with the throbbing dick.

“Take it, Tia! Open your mouth!” Celestia did as she was told, just as a hot stream of white goo shot out of the cock and splashed across her muzzle. A second burst of cum shot out, landing in Celestia’s open, waiting mouth. Nightmare Moon pushed her cock into the mouth, resting the head on Celestia’s tongue. The mare began to suck down the remaining spurts of cum as they leaked from the thick, black cock. After a moment or two, Nightmare Moon pulled back, her cock coming free from Celestia’s mouth with an audible pop.

She leaned down and ran her tongue across Celestia’s muzzle, licking up the stream of cum that rested against the white coat of the mare, even as the cock that created it withdrew back into her body. When she pulled back her head, she saw Celestia smiling up at her.

Her eyebrow arching up, Nightmare Moon paused. “Smiling? Don’t tell me that I’ve broken you so soon.”

Her smile grew larger as she looked at the confused expression on the other alicorn. “You called me ‘Tia.’ Only Luna calls me that. You’re losing your hold. Our love is too strong for you.”

The confused face quickly turned into a scowl, and Nightmare Moon brought her hoof across Celestia’s face, slapping her hard enough to snap the mare’s head to the side.

“Clean yourself up. I want you presentable for our audience,” she said coldly.

“Audience?” Celestia brought the back of her hoof up to the corner of her mouth, wiping clear the blood that once again began to trickle out.

“Yes. I’m going to publicly announce my ascension to the throne of Equestria.” She turned to look at the seated mare. “And you are going to help me.”

“You truly think I will give you my throne?” Celestia asked calmly. “Using my body is one thing, but I will not let you lord yourself over my subjects.”

“You don’t have a choice!” Nightmare Moon spat back at her. “Which reminds me, I still need to break you, don’t I?”

Midnight purple light surrounded Nightmare Moon’s horn and Celestia’s left, rear leg at the same time. A series of sharp snaps was heard coming from the leg, and Celestia reached for it in a silent scream of pain.

“That was for your physical assault on me,” she explained. “It should be much more difficult to attack me with a broken leg. Don’t worry, I will probably be gracious enough to let a doctor set it later. If you obey. If not, both you and innocents suffer.”

“Luna will beat you,” Celestia said through clenched teeth.

“Of course she will.” Idly discarding Celestia’s statement, Nightmare Moon’s horn came to life again, the deep purple glow of her magic surrounding her and spreading out to fill the entire room.

Across Equestria the same event occurred. Whether it be in Canterlot, Manehatten, Los Pegasus, Ponyville or elsewhere, every city was witness to the same moment. A towering figure appeared above their city, looking down at them from the night sky. Nightmare Moon stood over them all.

“Citizens of Equestria, awaken! It is time for you to meet your new ruler!” Her voice echoed through each town, jarring every pony from their slumber like an intruder invading their home. Nightmare Moon paused for only a moment or two, allowing some of her new subjects to step forth into her beautiful night. “Some of you doubtlessly recognize me. This is good. I am here to announce myself as your new ruler, Queen Moon of Equestria.”

Motioning behind her, Nightmare Moon continued. “Your former princess, Celestia, has willingly abdicated her throne to me, acknowledging me as her superior and as the rightful ruler of Equestria.” Celestia scowled behind her.

“There are probably a great number of horrific stories that have circulated about me, and I am here to push those rumors aside, my children. I love and care for each and every pony in the land, and only want what is best for all of you.

“One thing that you have doubtlessly heard is that I will banish the sun, keeping Equestria bathed in night eternally. How untrue! The sun is needed to grow our food and sustain our very lives, my ponies. I would never do such a thing.” Nightmare Moon smiled reassuringly. “However, I do feel that there needs to be some...adjusting to the everyday lives of ponies. As an example, businesses will now be closed during daylight hours, and open only at night. Yes, that will mean that ponies will have to adjust their schedules, staying up during my glorious night to live their lives, but there are many benefits to this plan. Not the least of them being that it will please me, your queen, to see my beloved subjects enjoying my night.”

In the magical projection in the sky across the land, Celestia could be seen behind Nightmare Moon on the ground, holding her leg, her eyes glaring at the midnight mare. Her face spoke volumes to each and every one of her subjects.

“Of course, you are all free ponies, and have the rights to do whatever it is that you feel is best for yourself and your community. But understand this: it is not good to upset your new queen. Celestia has learned this simple rule, and as an example to all of you, she will now be punished for her insolence from earlier. Please, watch.”

Nightmare Moon turned towards the prostrate princess, glaring down at her with a twisted smile on her face. “Don’t worry, Celestia, this won’t kill you. It will certainly hurt a great deal, though.”

Purple energy once again swirled around Nightmare Moon’s horn. Celestia stared at her, calmly pulling herself up to sit proudly in front of the mare, fear completely absent from her eyes. The smell of ozone filled the room as night-laden energy laced across the open air towards the stoic alicorn--only to have its path interrupted by a shield of blue light that placed itself directly in front of the princess.

Both Nightmare Moon and Celestia turned their head to see a small blue unicorn with a white mane staring with fury at the black alicorn, her hooves planted wide and her head down in a defensive posture.

“You will not harm the princess,” she said defiantly. “Not while The Great and Powerful Trixie still lives!”

The warmth of the room retreated from the stare that came from Nightmare Moon.

“So be it,” she said, and turned to face Trixie.

* * * * *

Twilight Sparkle galloped as fast as her legs would carry her. It was a long run, and she was exhausted, making this a definite challenge. What’s more, she heard sounds of violence and screams of pain coming from behind her, but she kept her head down and her focus forward, rushing to find her friends. Or more specifically, one of her friends.

She saw them all fly off, battered away by Celestia, but that was before she was whisked off to the temple and saved the princess from herself. Now, she was going to need help to stop Nightmare Moon.

“Come on! You have to be around here somewhere!” Talking to herself had become second habit. Sometimes it let her hear things that she missed when she just repeated them in her brain. Catch the flaws and the hidden gems in her thoughts. “And it doesn’t help that you mostly blend into the background right now.”

She ran on, her eyes scanning for signs of anypony, but specifically looking for a blue mane on the white of the ground. Rarity had to be around here somewhere.

A flash of color caught the corner of her eye. It was blue, but the wrong shade. “Second best choice,” Twilight said to herself as she ran over towards Rainbow Dash.

The athletic pegasus was unconscious, but breathing. Twilight looked her over once, very quickly, trying to spot any obvious damage to her body. Nothing looked broken, and she didn’t have the time to be gentle. “Sorry about this Rainbow Dash.” She grimaced as she bent over and placed her horn near Dash’s head. Concentrating as hard as she could, she focused her energy through her horn and a lavender spark arced across the gap between her horn and Dash’s forehead. Immediately, the pegasus jumped up into the air and hovered there.

“What?! Where is she? I’m gonna--” She looked around and saw no pony nearby except Twilight. “Um, Twilight, what happened?”

“No time to explain! We saved Celestia--well, I did--but she knocked all of you out. Now she’s in trouble and we need to go save her...again. But I gotta find Rarity before I can do anything, and I’ve only been able to find you, and if we don’t find Rarity then Nightmare Moon is going to take over Equestria and we’ll all end up in the dungeon or as stuffed ponies in her personal museum of ponies that decided to fight against her that she stuffed,” Twilight wasn’t able to follow exactly what she said, but that didn’t stop her from saying it.

“Uh, right. You just kinda explained things after saying--”

“No time!” Twilight grabbed Dash by the withers. “You’ve got to go find Rarity!”

“Right!” Dash flew up in the air a little. “What do I do when I find her?”

“Let me know where she is, so I can run there,” she answered.

“Couldn’t you just do your teleport thingie?” Dash pondered.

“No! Not without Rarity, so I can’t very well teleport to Rarity before I can teleport, can I?”

“Y’know, you get kinda hard to follow when you are like this,” Dash commented.

“That’s for later! Rarity now!” Twilight’s eyes got wide and wild.

“Right!” Dash took to the air, flying up into the night sky, hoping to spot her friend.

Twilight, meanwhile, took a moment to wonder why she was having such a hard time explaining her situation to anypony. This would certainly merit a full study at a later date, when precise conditions and controls could be properly established. She looked up, watching Rainbow Dash criss-cross the sky, scanning below for some sign of Rarity. Suddenly, she banked hard to one side and then did a spinning loop, heading right back towards Twilight. She flew in and landed right in front of the unicorn.

“Get on!” Rainbow instructed.

“You want me to ride you?” Twilight asked, somewhat confused.

“Yeah, it’s quicker than you running the whole way, and this way I don’t have to give directions,” she explained, lowering her body to make it easier for Twilight to climb onto her back.

“Good thinking, Dash!” She jumped up onto her friend’s back, holding on as tight as she dared. “Let’s go!”

Before the words faded from the air, Rainbow Dash was in flight. “I saw Pinkie and AJ while I was flying, too. And Fluttershy can’t be too far off,” Rainbow Dash explained in flight.

“Good. As soon as you drop me off, go get them. Wake them up and bring them back. We all need to be back together. We have to be together to use the Elements.”

“Got it! I’ll send them towards you,” Dash answered. “Oh, and what is the plan, anyway?”

“Simple. We blast Nightmare Moon and save the world.”

“Ah, plan-A. Got it.”

They arrived. Rarity was lying unconscious, but appeared unharmed. Twilight jumped from Dash’s back even before the pegasus landed. “Back in a flash!” Dash flew off to find the others while Twilight turned her attention to Rarity.

“No time for subtlety.” Twilight leaned over and brought her horn directly into contact with Rarity’s. The smallest flash of light appeared at the tips of the two horns, and Rarity’s eyes opened with a start.

“Oh my!” She sat up, taking in her surroundings. “Twilight, I’m not sure we were successful in our attempt to free the princess.”

“We weren’t. I was. I’ll explain later. Really this time, and not like I did with Rainbow Dash. Right now I need your help,” Twilight said in rapid succession.

“My help? Whatever can I do?” Rarity stated in confusion.

“You’re a unicorn!” Twilight explained.

There was a pause.

“I am well aware of my heritage, Twilight, darling. You are going to have to be a pinch more specific in your reasoning.”

“You can do magic,” Twilight stated.

“Not really,” Rarity said. “Of course I can do fundamental magic, but nothing complex. I’ve never properly studied magic.”

“I have,” Twilight said.

“Yes, we are all aware of your abilities, but I don’t see what hat has to do with me.”

“Right now I can’t do magic,” Twilight said. “I gave all my energy away when I saved Celestia. I need you to loan me some of your energy. Some of your magic.”

“Well, I certain have no issue with the concept, but I have no idea how to do it, darling,” Rarity said.

“I do, but you’ll have to trust me and just let it happen. Can you do that?”

Rarity smiled. “I am rather well known for my giving nature.”

“Right.” Twilight stood there for a moment, and then slowed down. “Right. I’m sorry, but...well, the princess is in danger. Nightmare Moon is back and she--”

“Nightmare Moon?!” Rarity’s eyes shot wide. “She’s still alive? What about Trixie? Did you see her? Do you know what happened to her?”

“No, not yet. But she might be okay, too, I suppose,” Twilight answered.

“Well, what are you waiting for? How do I get you charged up?” Rarity motioned anxiously.

“Okay, this shouldn’t hurt, but you might feel some weird things. Sorry.” Twilight leaned forward and once again placed her and Rarity’s horns directly together at the tips. A glow of magic appeared at the apex, first a very faint lavender color, but the color slowly leached out to white.

“Wh-where am I?” Rarity asked. She was standing alone on a featureless white plane. Her heart raced and her eyes expanded as she spun around looking for any vantage point at all. “Hello? Is there anypony who can hear me?” Desperation creaked through every word.

“It’s okay, Rarity.” Twilight’s voice came from everywhere, stoic and calm. “You’re in the center of your magic. The heart of your own magic. You are perfectly safe.”

“Twilight? Twilight, what am I doing here? And what’s more, how did I get here?” She asked, hopeful for a simple answer.

“It’s part of the spell. Normally a pony doesn’t notice this part. You’re really in touch with who you are, Rarity. That’s special.”

“Of course I am, darling. How can I create something beautiful if I don’t know who I am.”

“Well, that seems like a pretty simplistic answer, actually. There are plenty of artistic ponies that struggle all their life to find their own creative heart. And some of the best works ever done could be argued were about journeys of self-discovery.”

“Twilight,” Rarity tried to derail the conversation.

“In fact, I was just reading one of the longer works by Chantel Harp--under her pseudonym of Belle Papier, which she only used three times.”

“Twilight,” Rarity tried again.

“The whole point of the book was about a mare trying to discover her true self by leaving everything that she knew as a foal behind and reinventing herself in a new city. Which is ironic, considering that she wrote this novel under a different name.”

TWILIGHT!” Rarity’s voice echoed in the vast nothing and left a moment of silence behind. “Focus, darling.”

“I am focused.” Rarity spun around at the sound of her friend’s voice directly behind her. Twilight Sparkle stood there, smiling.

“What? I thought that this... You said I was inside my own magic or some such thing. How, pray tell, did you find your way here?”

“That’s the point of the spell,” Twilight answered. “It brought me to your magical center. It will let me tap into your magic to cast spells--for a little while, anyway. Which, of course, is how I was able to cast this spell.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Rarity stated. “How can you use my magic to tap into my magic.”

“Actually, that’s the only way it can be done. You have to let me into your inner sanctum of magic reserves by letting the flow of magic start from you. It gives me something to track back to. You can’t do this spell on anypony unwilling to let the other one in.”

“I see.” She stood there staring at Twilight for a moment. “What now? Please tell me that we aren’t going to have to have sex.”

Twilight recoiled. “What?! Um, no. No that isn’t part of this spell. A similar one, yes, it turns out. Found that out personally recently. Um, sorry.”

“No, no, dear. I’m grateful. I’m not much in the mood for that sort of thing. Besides, Trixie isn’t here, so...well, it’s complicated.”

“Oooo-kay. Well, why don’t we finish up this spell so we can go find Trixie and save the princess, then?”

“I simply adore this plan, darling. Let’s get right on it.” Rarity smiled.

Twilight nodded and spirals of color began to work their way back into Rarity’s world. At first, they were all vague blurs and smears, spinning and growing, merging together at the edges to form seams that started to stabilize the picture. After a few seconds shapes started to take form and sound exploded onto the scene.

“TWILIGHT!!” Applejack was shaking the pony violently.

“Applejack? Calm down. What are you doing?” Twilight responded. She glanced about quickly and saw the rest of her circle of friends immediately nearby, staring at both her and Rarity.

“You had us plum scared there, Twi,” Applejack explained. “When we all got here, you an’ Rarity was tied up at the horns and glowin’ somethin’ fierce. Dash and I tried to pull you two apart but couldn’t make no headway ‘til about a minute ago when you just popped away from each other. After that, I was just scared and tryin’ to get your attention.”

“What? How long were we out?” Twilight asked.

“Beats me,” Rainbow Dash said, “but I left you here about fifteen minutes ago.”

Twilight’s eyes bulged. “Fifteen minutes! Oh my gosh! We’ve got to hurry. The princess and Nightmare Moon have been alone together for way too long. We need to get in there and save the princess. Who knows what could have happened?”

“Is this normal princess or super-duper-scary princess?” Pinkie asked.

“Normal. The other princess got...cured. She’s our princess again.”

“Oh, well, good!” Pinkie beamed. “Then we know who to whammy when our whammy moment comes.’

“And we have to be ready to do it together,” Twilight explained. “I would hate to think of anypony having to face off against Nightmare Moon by herself.”

* * * * *

Trixie’s body smashed into the massive marble column of the temple with an audible thud. She fell to the ground, and picked herself up once more. The pain in her side told her that there was at least some cracked ribs from the impact, and she hoped that was all.

“Trixie!” Celestia reached out to the pony with her voice. She struggled to stand, her leg keeping her in place on the lush red pillows of her bed. “You’ve got to run!”

“No!” She steadied herself, her horn glowing blue once more as she used her own magical power to reinforce her body, crafting a shell not unlike a cast on her left foreleg. “I will not abandon you to her. She will fall. I swear it!”

“Oh, how I do love false bravado,” Nightmare Moon casually walked around the room with a wicked grin, her eyes focused on Trixie. “I have already humbled Celestia, and you think that you will defeat me. It’s quaint, actually.”

“Leave her alone!” Celestia cried out, pleading to Nightmare Moon. “This is between you and I. I will do whatever you ask, just don’t hurt her. Leave the citizens of Equestria out of this.”

“You don’t understand, princess. Neither of you do,” Trixie stepped forward, her left leg limping slightly despite her best efforts. “Truthfully, I didn’t either. Not until my recent bout with power. The ponies of Equestria will never bow down to you, Nightmare Moon. You will never rule over any of them. Fear does not create loyalty. Trixie understands that now. I will fight you with my last breath to defend Princess Celestia, and I will not be the last.”

“And why would you throw away your life so casually, my pet?” Nightmare Moon snickered as she spoke. “It will gain you nothing.”

“I have already gained more than I hoped,” she answered. A bolt of energy shot from her horn, slicing towards Nightmare Moon. The dark mare effortlessly brushed it aside with her own horn, sending it into one of the columns that comprised the shell of the temple. The midnight blue power of Nightmare Moon casually flashed out, smashing into Trixie once more, launching her into the air. She hovered momentarily, trying to catch herself with her magic, but she was only able to soften her fall.

“Luna...Nightmare Moon, please, I beg you. Don’t do this. I submit. I fully surrender my throne to you. I will let you do anything you wish to me. Please, please just don’t do this.” Tears raced down Celestia’s face as she begged for the other pony’s life.

“Oh, it’s a little too late for that, Celestia,” Nightmare Moon stated. “She’s right. Unless I make a proper example of her right now there will always be rebellion. I must show the ponies of Equestria what it means to defy me.”

Across Equestria the ponies watched in horror. The magical projection that Nightmare Moon began to announce her intentions continued. Mothers turned their foal’s faces away from the violence, attempting to spare them from what they knew was coming. Stallions stood impatiently, unable to act and frightened for the poor unicorn they watched.

Only in Canterlot did ponies take action. Forces rallied, ready to defend the capital against the possible intruder. Special forces rolled out, pegasus soldiers taking flight in an attempt to spot the battle while unicorn spies tried to track the magical power being unleashed. But the majority of them did the same thing that everypony else did: they watched.

“Do not kill her!” Celestia dragged herself forward on her two forelegs, dragging the broken limb behind her. “I won’t let you!”

“You have no say in the matter,” Nightmare Moon laughed at the hobbled pony. “And do not fear, I won’t be killing the poor beast. But I will have her on the ground sobbing and begging for her life.” She turned and looked at Celestia. “Much like I already have you doing.”

Celestia’s eyes turned cold gazing up at the black mare. She stopped crawling and rose up, bringing her head as high as she could. With the height of the bed’s platform, she almost looked Nightmare Moon evenly in the eye. Silently she stared, even as Nightmare Moon turned away towards the blue unicorn once more.

Struggling once again to gain her hooves, Trixie suddenly found herself yanked into the air, a ring of energy surrounding her throat. Her forehooves reached to the constraining magic, trying to pull it off and release her, or at the very least let more air into her lungs. She floated through the air, moved by the magic that constrained her, stopping directly in front of Nightmare Moon.

“Tell me, Trixie, my pet, what was it that you hoped to accomplish? I have already defeated you when you were far more capable, and I have quashed the mighty Celestia. What hope did you really have?”

“There...is...always...” A beam of energy burst from Trixie’s horn and caught Nightmare Moon squarely in the face, surprising the mare and sending her flying backwards, releasing her hold on Trixie, who fell to the ground limply. “...hope.”

The unicorn brought her hoof up to her neck, rubbing the rough area that was just strangled by magic. She was still regaining her senses when she felt a massive weight pressing her into the ground. A magical force pushed her into the cold marble floor, and as she struggled to move against it, a metallic-shoed hoof pressed down against the side of her head, driving it into the ground.

“That...was a serious mistake.” A scorch mark loomed on Nightmare Moon’s face as she scowled down at Trixie. She ground her hoof against the flesh, bringing another level of pain to the pony.

“You said you weren’t going to kill her,” Celestia’s voice remained cold and direct at Nightmare Moon. “Do you want all of the ponies of Equestria to see that? To have her as a symbol of rebellion?”

Nightmare Moon’s eyes shifted towards Celestia, even though her head remained pointed at Trixie. A flash of midnight filled the chamber and then was drawn back into Nightmare Moon. “None of Equestria is seeing anything any longer. I will have to resume our...conversation...with them after I have dealt with this small annoyance.”

“Trixie?” Rarity’s voice cracked as she saw what was happening to her beloved.

Nightmare Moon slowly turned her head to the left, looking at the sextet of ponies who had just stepped past the columns of the temple and onto the white polished flooring. “Ah, the heroes have arrived at last,” her voice dripped, “I suppose this is as good a time as any to deal with you six.”

“You get your hoof off of her!” Rainbow Dash rushed forward, aiming for the leg that was pushing against Trixie. Faster than her eye could follow, she felt something slam into her and drive her back away from her target. Nightmare Moon’s wing pulled back to her side, having brushed aside the assaulting pegasus with a simple sweep.

“Truth be told, she is of little consequence,” Nightmare Moon pushed Trixie away, sliding her across the room and into the raised bed platform. “You six, however, are an actual threat. At least when you are all together.”

“And we’re going to put a stop to you, again,” Twilight stated. She concentrated, channeling magic to her horn for an unknown purpose--and nothing happened. Twilight felt no flow of magic, and turned to her friend to find out why. “Rarity?”

The white unicorn was focused on the unsteady form of her lover, as Trixie once more struggled to find a way to stand. Rarity was visibly shaken, concerned for her one special somepony and not paying attention to the danger standing in front of her.

“Rarity! I need you! You’ve got to help us,” Twilight stepped up to Rarity, bringing the unicorn’s attention back to the immediate concern.

“What? Oh, I...of course, darling. Do what you will. I’m ready now,” Rarity said, trying to remain on task.

“Oh, I don’t think so. Cut off the head, and the body dies. And it is very clear who the head of this problem truly is, Twilight Sparkle. Good-bye,” Nightmare Moon said.

Two things happened simultaneously. A rumble of clouds in the sky heralded the lightning that struck down. Several strokes of blue power streaking from the sky, focusing on the body of Twilight Sparkle. And as they did, a blue flash of light signaled the teleportation of Trixie, who placed herself in front of Twilight, taking the devastating attack to herself.

The smell of burning hair attacked the nostrils of the nearby ponies as Trixie fell to the ground with a sickening thud. In an instant, Rarity was there, cradling her lover and looking into her face.

“Trixie!” Rarity was in a panic. “Trixie, say something!”

Her eyes flickered open and beheld the faces of Rarity and Twilight Sparkle staring down at her. She looked over at Twilight and smiled.

“Trixie,” Twilight said softly, “that was...”

“Great and powerful,” she finished for her. The unicorn’s breath was very labored.

“But why?” Twilight asked.

“Because...you are...needed to...stop her,” she explained. “I was...always...just a delaying tactic...until you could arrive.” Her eyes shifted over to Rarity, who still cradled her gently, her hoof stroking the mare’s mane. “Rarity....”

“Don’t talk, my love. Everything will be just fine. Don’t worry. I’m here now,” Rarity fought through tears.

“I...have to,” Trixie said weakly, every word a struggle to get out. “If I...don’t...I might...not get the...chance to...tell you...that I...love...”

The lifeless form slumped in Rarity’s grasp. A final rattle of breath escaping her lungs as Trixie left the world of the living. A cry of disbelief broke from Fluttershy and a gasp escaped from both Applejack and Pinkie Pie.

Rarity opened her mouth silently, staring down as tears began to stream down her face. Finally, words came out in a rush. “No. No, Trixie. No, please, darling. Wake up. Wake up, please.”

“What a shame,” Nightmare Moon stated coldly, “I truly did intend to keep her as a pet.” She turned her eye towards Twilight once again. “Oh well, at least she will have company very soon.”

“I do not think so!” The massive wings of Celestia beat, raising the alicorn up high enough for her to wrap her forelegs around the head and neck of Nightmare Moon, pulling her back onto her legs as though she was rearing up. The sun goddess continued to flap her wings, forcing Nightmare Moon back further and further.

“What?!” Nightmare Moon was visibly shocked. “This is not possible! Your leg is shattered. You have no magic. Your wings are not capable of supporting your weight without the magic. You are helpless!”

“I am far from helpless. You never understood. It isn’t magic that makes me their princess, it is the love that I have for them, and that gives me strength far greater than anything else!” Celestia chided the other alicorn.

“Not greater than me!” Nightmare Moon snarled and summoned magic to her horn--unsuccessfully. “What? How?”

No more. Never again. A familiar voice echoed through the room.

Celestia smiled. “Thank you, Luna,” she said to no pony, and then turned her attention back to Nightmare Moon. “And now you see that Luna’s love is greater than you are, as well.”

“You cannot hold me forever! I will still crush you and these other ponies!”

“I don’t need to hold you forever. Twilight! Now!” Celestia cried to her prized pupil.

“Rarity!” Twilight turned to the weeping unicorn. “We need you. Please.”

She brought her head up from the body of Trixie, her makeup running down her face with a torrent of tears. There was no sadness in Rarity’s expression, though, only rage. Her lip curled up as she spoke, “you need my magic, Twilight? You have it. You will have more power than you will ever need. Girls, let’s take this bitch down.”

Rarity’s eyes turned white in a display of power, and that energy arced from her to Applejack, then to Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and finally to Twilight Sparkle before completing the loop back to her. They rose up as one, and with a flash of kaleidoscopic might, six individual beams of color arced up into the room, swirling around each other and intertwining before becoming a single rainbow of energy that struck down onto the two grappling alicorns.

Celestia was sent flying backwards, causing her to land awkwardly on the smooth floor, and eliciting a sharp cry of pain where her shattered leg hit the stone. The light that struck Nightmare Moon was blinding, and no pony could see exactly what happened inside that glow. The six ponies possessing the Elements of Harmony floated back to the ground, staring across at the figure that was still aglow with the energy that struck her. Slowly, it faded away to reveal a single form standing in the room.

Nightmare Moon stood there, her head bowed and her eyes closed.

“No....” Twilight gasped at the pony. The alicorn raised her head, opened her eyes and looked over at Twilight and her friends, scanning them one-by-one. “A-again! Let’s do it again!” Twilight said in terror.

“No,” Pinkie Pie said softly. “No, look Twilight. Look at her eyes.”

They all looked. The predatory slit of Nightmare Moon’s pupil was gone, replaced by the full, round pupil of a normal pony.

“P-princess Luna?” Twilight asked hopefully.

“Yes, Twilight. We are returned,” she said solemnly.

“But...you still look like....”

“That is because I am she, as well.”

There was a silence.

“Ah don’t get it,” Applejack said. “Are you the princess, or are you that snake in the grass, Nightmare Moon?”

“I am both. I always have been. But now I am prepared to accept that fact,” she stated. “You were able to bring both of my selves back into harmony. Nightmare Moon is all that is dark inside me. All the fear and hate, the rage and the jealousy, everything that I do not want to be. The scrolls brought that out of me and gave it life, but you and the Elements of Harmony have returned me--made me whole. Now I must deal with my dark side like everypony else.”

“So...what do we call you?” Pinkie Pie cocked her head to the side.

“Princess Luna. That was always our name, and we would prefer to keep it, if you will let me,” she stated calmly.

“Luna?” Celestia’s voice creaked up as the princess sat up, regaining her own senses. “Luna, is that you? Truly you?”

“It is, Tia,” she smiled back at her sister. “But I wouldn’t be if you hadn’t believed in me.”

“I do far more than just that, Luna. Far more.” Tears of joy washed down Celestia’s face, even as a heavy sob drew the attention away from her and back to the other white pony in the room.

Rarity sat there slumped over the body of Trixie, tears washing down her face and onto the coat of her fallen love. The five closest friends she had in the world moved behind her, circling her and placing a forehoof each onto her shoulder in support. She couldn’t feel them. She couldn’t feel anything except pain at the moment. Luna stepped up to her, an expression of sorrow almost as deep etched onto her face.

“Rarity,” she said softly, “is there anything that I can--”

The white unicorn’s head shot up, daggers flying from her eyes as she stared down Luna. “Get away from her!” she spat. “Haven’t you already done enough?!”

Luna paused, looking at the anger and pain personified that stared back up at her. She wanted to explain, to make her understand, but there were no words. A look of resolution fell upon her. “No, Rarity, I have not.”

She bent down, energy swelling at the tip of her horn as she placed it onto the chest of Trixie.

“Luna! NO!” Celestia shouted from behind her, but it was too late. A flash of midnight energy took away the vision of almost everypony in the room. Only Luna and Celestia could see what happened. The other six ponies were forced to turn away from the power that was displayed.

It took a moment for the light to dim, and even longer for the ponies to turn back towards what happened. Until they were drawn back by a single voice.

“R-Rarity?” A weak voice called out from the pony’s lap.

All six ponies turned back around to see the eyes of The Great and Powerful Trixie slowly blink open, staring up into the face of Rarity.

“Trixie? TRIXIE?!” Rarity’s hooves began to brush along the face of the pony in disbelief.

“I was wanting to tell you something, Rarity,” she said slowly. “Trixie loves you. With all of my heart, I truly love you.”

Tears once again flowed from the unicorn, and they were echoed by the eyes of five other ponies in the room, who all stood in disbelief of what had just happened.

“And I love you, darling. Moreso than I ever realized, I love you!” Rarity fell into an embrace, tightly pulling the mare against her. Kissing the side of her head over and over again.

“That is quite pleasant, Rarity, but...I really think I need to sleep. I feel awful,” Trixie stated.

Wordlessly, Luna turned and started to leave. She hadn’t made it six steps before Twilight Sparkle ran up beside her. “Princess, that was...amazing. What--how did you do that?”

Luna looked down at the unicorn, a forced smile crossing her face. “There is a reason that we are called goddess, Twilight.” She turned back and continued to walk slowly away, leaving Twilight to ponder her words.

Celestia hung her head, tears streaming down her face.

Epilogue One:

“I cannot thank you enough my kind host,

I promise to be out in a month at the most.”

Zecora walked up from the basement after having set up a cot and moving what few personal possessions she had left down there.

“It’s the least that I can do,” Twilight answered, her horn glowing as she moved to plates through the air. A few nights rest and her magic reserves were pretty much back to normal. “I knew there was a chance that your house got hit by...the accident, but to lose everything like that must be really tough.”

“It isn’t easy to take, that’s for sure,

but I haven’t lost all, my life is secure.

And it is better to live, continue, and rebuild

than to be another name on memory hill.”

Twilight moved over to her dining table, setting down the two plates of food that she had prepared. Spike was over at the Carousel Boutique, house watching for Rarity, and that left her alone to fend for herself for a few days.

“And don’t worry about the time, Zecora. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you want,” Twilight smiled, reassuringly. “Now, I’m not a great cook, but...dinner is ready.” She made a slight flourish with her hoof as she presented the food.

Zecora laughed and took her place at the table. A daisy sandwich with a side of hay fries waited on the plate.

“I disagree. It looks very good, rather tasty,

and with my growling tummy it should go rather hastily.”

Twilight sat across from her and levitated the sandwich up and took a big bite. This was one of the few things that she could make that didn’t bring the fire department running to her kitchen, so she made it quite often. She hoped that Zecora didn’t have an issue with that.

“So, let me see if I got this right,” Twilight began between bites, “you thought that the girls and I were going to fail in our quest, right? But we didn’t. Everything turned out just fine. So, your vision was wrong.”

“But you did fail, Twilight, don’t you see,

the evil you fought out there still runs free.”

“No, no, you’re wrong,” she chewed quickly so she could continue. “We hit Luna with the Elements and got rid of Nightmare Moon, and both Trixie and Celestia had already lost their whacked out power levels before that. Everypony is better. We won.”

“Nightmare Moon is not gone from the world.

She lives on in her host, their souls now curled.”

Zecora spoke with no malice or fear, but with definite clarity of vision.

Twilight shook her head. “It’s not like that. Well, I guess maybe it is, but....” She swallowed another bite of her sandwich. “Okay, Luna saved Trixie. If she was something evil it would have been the easiest thing to do nothing and just let her...well, it would have been easy to do nothing.”

Zecora nodded in agreement and then made her closing statement.

“Time will tell my friend, and I hope you are right,

for if she is still a fiend, then we are in for a blight.”

Twilight and Zecora sat there silently for a long moment, each eating their dinner in thought. The potential for Luna to regress was there, Twilight supposed, but that seemed so impossible. It wasn’t the way she acted earlier, and actions spoke louder than words, right? She shook her head, clearing the thoughts out. She didn’t want to think about that right now.

“Still feeling a bit woozy, are you dear?

It will pass in due time, have no fear.

If you would like, perhaps I can help you to move past,

and provide you with memories that will hopefully last.”

Her eyes shifted first left and then right as Zecora’s words ran around in her head. She looked across the table at the zebra who stared back with half-lidded eyes.

“Um, I-I’m not sure that I follow you, Zecora.” Twilight said slowly.

“Then let me be plain to you and give it a shot,

What I really want is another chance at your plot.”

Zecora smiled smoothly, tilting her head seductively as she looked at the unicorn. Twilight in return blinked twice, making sure she heard correctly. She opened her mouth to say something, and then closed it before any words came out. She looked back across the table at the exotic pony. The curve of her neck with the gold rings on it. How straight and sharp her mane stood up from her body. And of course, those stripes, which traced all over her body and....

“I’ll race you upstairs,” Twilight jumped from her chair and bolted up towards her loft bedroom. Zecora laughed softly, and slowly stood from the chair and walked up the steps towards the anxiously awaiting pony.

Epilogue Two:

Trixie moaned softly as she opened her eyes. “Wh-where am I?”

She looked around the room, not recognizing a single piece of furniture or decoration. The bedroom was huge, far larger than anything she had ever slept in before. And the bed itself competed for dominance of the room against everything else combined. Four huge posts towered up towards the high, lofted ceiling. Drapes of blue and white laid over the posts, providing a sheer canopy above to diffuse the light, leaving the bed with an open feeling, while still being very intimate.

Furniture was everywhere. Chaise lounges, sofas, chairs, desks, bureaus and more all lined the walls or sat organized in the middle of the room. The bedroom seemed to be only one room of the dwelling, too, as there was an archway clearly leading to another space. Trixie counted at least six windows to the room, in addition to the large glass-paned door that stood only a short distance away, leading--it seemed--to a balcony of some sort. From the angle of the light that poured into the room, she guessed that it was probably late afternoon.

She put her forehooves down and tried to push herself up to a sitting position so that she could get a better look around. “Aaaaah!” she cried out reflexively, her body rejecting that idea immediately.

Appearing from the archway, Rarity all but galloped into the room. “Darling!” She rushed over to Trixie’s bed. “Take it easy. Lie down. I’m glad to see you awake. The doctors say that you will be very weak and rather sore for a while. No concerns. I am here to take care of you.”

“Rarity?” Trixie smiled. “Trixie is very happy to see you, but I have to ask: where exactly am I seeing you?”

“This is called the Noblesse Tower. It’s a separate part of the Royal Equestrian Arms hotel in Canterlot,” she smiled. “And I have to say, I am very impressed with the level of service they provide. They do so understand how best to pamper a mare.”

Looking around, Trixie tried to imagine a scenario that put her here, but came up empty. “And...why are we here?”

Reaching over, Rarity brushed the slight curl of Trixie’s mane from her forehead. “Tell me, Trixie dear, how much do you remember of what happened?”

She thought, tracing back through recent memories. “I--it seems rather clouded, actually. I remember---oh, Rarity. I remember transforming into a horrible monster. Please, tell me that I didn’t do anything to you.”

“No, no,” Rarity said reassuringly, “you never touched me, darling. Everything is fine.”

“But Twilight! I did horrible things to Twilight Sparkle. Oh, no.” Trixie swallowed hard. “Will you be able to forgive Trixie for what she did?”

“Of course. And so has Twilight. And I’m sure she’ll be happy to say that to you herself.”

“Oh, and I fought the princesses. Both of them. They must be enraged,” Trixie looked concerned.

“Actually, they are the ones that put you up here. They want to make sure that you get the best care. And thought it perhaps best that you not be at the castle right now. What with everything else that is happening.”

Rarity moved from the bed and went over to fetch a wheelchair that was nearby, rolling it over to sit next to the large mattress. Like everything else in the room, the wheelchair seemed to be crafted for opulence, with gold and silver highlights adorning the entire thing.

“What is that for? Trixie doesn’t need a wheelchair to move about. I am fully capable of--” She moved again, and felt the pain shoot through her entire body, cutting off her own sentence. She fell back onto the bed. “Or perhaps I might rest a bit longer.”

“You are going to get plenty of rest, but I want to try to get you out of that bed for at least a few minutes,” Rarity said. “Do you remember the bit with Celestia and Nightmare Moon?”

Trixie’s eyes opened wide. “Yes,” she said softly as the images came back to her. “The princess was injured and Nightmare Moon was ready to--well, Trixie doesn’t know what. I stepped in and battled her, rather unsuccessfully as I remember.”

“Of course it was, darling. Give me your hoof.” Rarity began to move the injured mare out of the bed and onto the chair.

“It was a failed moment in the life of The Great and Powerful Trixie!” Rarity’s calm dismissal of her nadir upset the blue unicorn. “And be careful! My body doesn’t seem very happy with me right now.”

“I would imagine not,” Rarity said, using her magic to hoist the unicorn out of the bed and onto the chair. “Upsy-daisy!”

“Do not patronize me, Rarity! Trixie has her pride, you know,” she protested.

“I know you do, darling.” Pushing the wheelchair away from the bed, Rarity used her magic to open the twin glass-pane doors that led out onto the balcony.

“I don’t feel like getting any air right now. And this chair is uncomfortable. What are you doing?” Trixie protested everything.

“Trixie, darling,” Rarity looked into her love’s eyes and explained, “please do be quiet for a moment--and listen.”

She rolled the chair up to the edge of the railing, letting Trixie see over and beyond it.

“There she is!” an undetermined voice shouted from below.

Trixie stared over the railing, her mouth hanging open as she took in the sight. Hundreds, if not thousands, of ponies were gathered on the street below, all of them staring up at the balcony where she sat. A deafening roar filled the air as all of the ponies cheered as one at the arrival of the single figure they all came to see.

“Wh-what is this?” Trixie stammered.

“They saw you battle Nightmare Moon, darling. They watched you defend Celestia from her attack. Putting yourself in harm’s way to save her life. You aren’t a failure, Trixie, my love,” Rarity smiled, “you’re a hero.”

The crowd didn’t slow. Trixie saw signs held aloft with her name on them, images of her face on others. They cheered at her, a cacophony of praise that she couldn’t decipher, but understood clearly. Not knowing what else to do, she raised her hoof and waved at them.

Rarity bent down and kissed the pony on the cheek. “I love you, darling. And so do they. They’ve been here like this since we got back a week ago.”

Trixie turned to look at Rarity, her eyes welling with tears. “And I love you, Rarity. So very, very much.”

The two unicorns smiled warmly, looking at each other, as the crowd began to chant Trixie’s name.

Epilogue Three:

Luna walked towards the large dining table that she shared with her sister. Alone. With every step she took, another pony took two steps in another direction, moving away from her. Her large, black frame was the exact image of Nightmare Moon--except for the helmet, which she chose not to wear, hoping to alleviate some of the fears. So far, it wasn’t working.

One of the royal assistants pulled out her chair awkwardly, as though wanting to run away before the princess even sat down. With a casual nod she dismissed him from the table. And he did run away.

The table was mostly empty--at least on her side. A slight selection of food littered her area, all of it just out of hoof’s reach. The other side--Celestia’s side--was adorned with large quantities of food. Lush vegetable displays and lovely pastries stacked on a golden serving platters. She looked down at the silver dome that covered her dining plate and pondered what was beneath it. Before she could move it, Celestia arrived.

“I am so sorry, Luna,” she said, rushing in to take her chair, which was graciously pulled out and replaced by three royal assistants. “It has been a rather hectic day. So much to be taken care of.”

“Of course. No concerns, Tia.” For the past week there had been no duties for her. No court to handle at night. No ponies coming to her for aid or guidance. No ponies wanting to talk to her at all. “How quickly things change....”

“What was that?” Celestia asked as she surveyed the food. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes, sister. Don’t worry. How is your leg? Healing well?” Luna asked.

Celestia nodded. “It is hurting less and less each day. The doctors are doing an excellent job. And the return of my magic has helped a great deal. Thank you for that, again.”

Luna was able to draw the magic block that was placed on her sister out, but only after another painful insertion of her horn into the area to directly cancel it. She could still remember the tears of pain that fell from Celestia’s face.

“How was your day?” Luna buried her problems.

“As I said, hectic. Far too many diplomats and visitors for my taste. I know they mean well, but I do have a country to run. Well wishes and concerns for my health are all fine and good, but they can get in the way of duty.”

“I imagine so,” Luna smiled weakly. “Any news?”

“Um, I’m afraid there is some bad news, Luna. The last of your ministers turned in his resignation today,” Celestia winced. “I was furious with him. I cannot believe that he would leave you so--”

Luna raised her hoof, stopping her sister. “It is all right, Celestia. I expected nothing less. Only my personal guards have remained loyal. They even asked if I would like for them to hunt down and punish the ministers and advisors that left without notice.”

Celestia shook her head. “Misguided, but loyal. I give them that.”

“I haven’t given them an answer yet,” Luna said, smiling.

Celestia blinked. “I do hope you are joking, sister.” The only reply was a steady smile from the black alicorn.

“Why don’t we eat?” Luna suggested, and Celestia politely nodded. Nearby unicorns lifted the silver and gold domes, respectively, from in front of the two princesses.

Celestia looked down at an impressive and intricately crafted meal. Tiny leaves, fresh and delicate, had been harvested from various plants in the royal garden and carefully placed in a pattern that grew to resemble a gigantic rose bloom, growing it seemed from the plate itself. The delicate aroma of rosemary and lavender wafted up to Celestia, causing her mouth to water instantly.

“So beautiful,” she said. “The chef certainly seems to have outdone himself today, Luna, I--” She looked across the table at her sister, who hung her head slightly, her eyes closed. Looking down, she saw a single thing sitting on her plate: a banana.

“A banana?” Celestia stated. “Luna, did you ask for the chef to bring you that?”

“No,” she said in a low voice. “It’s a commentary, Tia. Based on a joke that made its round when I first returned.”

“What joke? I haven’t heard of it,” Celestia said in seriousness.

“There are no bananas on the moon, sister.” She looked up at Celestia, fighting back tears. “They want you to send me back.”

Any expression of happiness left Celestia’s face. “Guard!” She turned to the nearest of her royal attache. “Find who did this! I want them brought before me IMMEDIATELY!”

A curt nod was the only response, and he and two others rushed away from the table.

“There is no point, Tia,” Luna said. “No pony will be found. Whoever did this will be protected by others.”

“Then we will rid ourselves of all of them!” Celestia stated. “They cannot do this to you!”

Luna stood from the table, looking down at the ground. “Perhaps it would be best if I just left, quietly.”

Celestia bolted from her chair, reaching her sister in seconds. “No! I will not allow these foals to drive you away. This is your home, Luna. They are wrong and will be released from duty if they do not understand that.”

“Are they?” Luna looked into her sister’s eyes. “They are only protecting you, Tia. They saw what I did to you, and they are very angry about it. And I don’t blame them.”

“But that wasn’t you! That was another being completely,” Celestia pleaded.

“No, it wasn’t,” Luna said. “That WAS me. You told Nightmare Moon that I was inside her and you were right, but you have to understand that it works both ways. She is inside me. We are the same being. All the things that I said and did came from inside me. At some level I want to do those things. They are right to fear me. You should, too.”

Celestia stood next to her sister, gazing into her eyes. Eyes that were filled with pain and remorse, and more than a hint of fear. There was only one course of action.

She bent down and kissed Luna deeply on the mouth. The kiss lingered for more than a few seconds, as Celestia brought her hoof up to grasp the back of Luna’s neck to hold her closer.

An audible gasp came from several ponies in the area, and the sound of a plate being dropped and shattering was clearly heard. And through it all, Celestia maintained the kiss with Luna. Her lips held onto her sister’s with deep, pure passion, pouring all that she had into that one moment.

Finally, they pulled apart, their eyes open and looking directly into each other.

“Tia, what are you doing?” Luna asked softly. “The scandal that will follow this is--”

“I don’t care,” Celestia cut her off. “I love you, and everypony can talk about it from now until eternity and it will not make a difference. I will not hide my feelings for you any longer.”

Luna paused, unsure of what to do, but the look in Celestia’s eyes told her everything. She leaned forward and nuzzled her sister. “Thank you, Tia. I love you, too.”

“Besides,” Celestia smiled, “in a few hundred years they will think of this as the natural order of things.”

Luna looked up at her sister. “But I don’t have a few hundred years any more, sister.”

“We don’t know that!” Celestia protested.

“I do,” Luna smiled softly. “It was my choice, Tia. I chose to trade my immortality for Trixie’s life. You know the rules as well as I do. Death will come for me.”

“I will not surrender you so easily,” Celestia stated passionately. “When Death comes, she will know what it is like to battle an angry goddess. I will save you. I swear it.”

Luna smiled, knowing the truth inside. She didn’t know how much longer she had to spend with her sister, but then, what mortal pony did know how long they had? It wasn’t about the length of time spent together, but the quality of that time, and she decided to make the most of whatever time they had left.

“Come sister,” Celestia said, “it is time to lower the sun and raise the moon. We can eat later. I was thinking of maybe having some food sent up to our room after a little while. I imagine that we will have worked up quite an appetite by then.”

Luna smiled playfully. “You are such a tease. I might have to punish you for that.”

“Promises, promises.”

The End