ESF: The Final Battle

The train pulled into Canterlot station, which was filled with guards. Galaxy wasn't surprised, but Crystal was. One guard came up. "Galaxy Nebula, just in time. This way." He said. It was Swift Rider, Scootaloo's father. He had the same colored mane and tail as his daughter, but was a white pegasus with blue eyes. His cutie-mark was unknown because no pony saw the cutie marks of royal guards under their armor. The couple arrived in the Throne Room, where Celestia was pacing. Luna was trying to calm her sister down.

"Oh! Galaxy, thank goodness." Luna exclaimed as she ran over to the blue pegasus. "Tia has been pacing non-stop ever since your brother escaped." She explained. Galaxy looked over Luna's shoulder and saw Celestia muttering to herself. "Let's leave Tia be. Crystal, please stay with my sister." Luna asked. Galaxy's wife nodded as Galaxy and the night princess trotted down into the dungeons. Galaxy stared at Comet's cell. "It's almost as if Comet was a ghost when he escaped." Luna explained. Galaxy was busy looking around, then he turned to face Luna.

"Where are the guards that were guarding my brother?" The pegasus asked. In the morgue, Galaxy was looking at the bodies of the two dead guards. "Hmm. Lemme see here." He said, putting a hoof under one of the guards's armor plates. He felt around until he noticed something. "Ah!!" Galaxy exclaimed. Luna was curious. "Massive internal displacement." The pegasus explained.

"I'm sorry?" Luna asked, clearly confused. Galaxy sighed. He sometimes hated when ponies didn't understand his scientific talk. He adjusted his stetson.

"Luna, you know how eggs become scrambled, right?" He asked. Luna nodded. "It's like that, but their insides got scrambled, like scrambled eggs." He told her. Luna made a face of disgust and looked at the bodies. "No evidence of tissue damage, though. I've only seen this twice." Galaxy added. Luna made a face of concern.

"What did this? A bomb Comet placed?" She asked. The blue pegasus shook his head in reply.

"No, no. Much more subtle than that. It's one of two things. Projected energy weapon, which is nearly impossible for Equestria, or...." Galaxy froze, realizing what the other thing was. Luna walked forward. "Poisonous fog. Only one pony I know had the ability to use poisonous fog. I should know, I was nearly killed by it once." Galaxy gulped. Luna gasped.

"No...." She shook her head in protest. "Not her....." She gasped. The pegasus nodded. Meanwhile, at Nightmare Moon's castle, Nightmare Moon was finding a way to make Comet a vampire again.

"No." She said as she tossed away a book. She grabbed another and read the title. "Uh uh." She threw it away as well. She grabbed another. "Nope." She said, throwing that book behind her. Comet side-stepped each one.

"Uh, sweetie?" He asked. "Are you sure the book you're looking for is here?" He asked. His lover nodded and kept searching. Nightmare Moon was in the air, hovering as she looked for the right book. Her silk black tail swayed back and forth, giving Comet a full view of her flank. Ever since her transformation, Nightmare Moon had taken the shape of a normal mare with a silk black mane and tail, sapphire blue eyes, and a new cutie mark. It was a crescent moon with fog surrounding the moon. Comet liked this version of his lover more because she was as tall as he was. She could go to her true form, but only when she was in combat.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I know it's here." The alicorn replied. Comet ducked as another book was thrown in his direction. "Oops! Sorry, sweetie!" The alicorn apologized to her lover. Then, she froze. "Shit! I just remembered!" She gasped. "Galaxy's pals have the Dark Prognosticus! We get that, it should contain the spell we need!" She giggled. Comet grabbed her and spun her around. "Ooh, just one problem." She gulped. "It's with that science pony, Quillton." She explained. Comet's ears dropped and he growled.

"We'll get it, cupcake. I just don't know how." Galaxy's brother pondered. "For now, let's put that plan of yours into action." He added. Nightmare Moon smirked evilly. Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna were explaining to Galaxy about Comet's escape.

"So it is true. My brother did escape." He said. The sun princess nodded. "Princess, allow me to personally bring him back. I know I can handle my brother." Galaxy explained. Celestia shook her head.

"I do not doubt you can handle your brother, Galaxy Nebula. It's the pony who freed him I am worried about." She replied. Galaxy's face twisted in hatred. Galaxy rarely got angry, and when he did, let's just say you wouldn't want to be standing right next to him. The last time Galaxy got angry, his brother Comet was being thrown across my cafe like a rag-doll. "I would rather that if you do go to bring your brother back that your friends go. You have a family to look after, if I'm not mistaken." Celestia added. Galaxy wanted to say something in protest, but sighed.

"Yes, I know Crystal and Melody are my priority, princess. It's just that, well, Comet's the only member of my family left. He's my responsibility." Galaxy explained. Crystal looked at her husband and felt sorry for him. Luna put a hoof on Galaxy's shoulder.

"Not everything is your responsibility, Galaxy. Yes, there are some things that you can and have influenced. Thanks to you and your friends, Equestria is a lot safer. However, with your brother on the run again and with Nightmare Moon....." Luna said, trailing off. She didn't need to finish her sentence. The pegasus nodded and walked back to his wife. Luna and Celestia watched as the couple left and headed back home. "Tia, Galaxy is right. Comet should be his responsibility." Luna protested. Celestia shook her head.

"No, sister. I will not have a repeat of 5 years ago when Comet time-traveled to the day Galaxy met his friends. If it weren't for Ms. Harmony, well, I don't know where we'd be." She explained. "The question remains, however. Why would Nightmare Moon go to such lengths to free Comet?" The sun princess asked. "It just doesn't make any...." Her voice trailed off when she heard a crashing noise outside her throne room. "What's going on?!" She demanded. Guards flanked the throne.

"Your highness! We're under attack!" A guard shouted, lowering his spear. The palace doors burst open, revealing Comet and Nightmare Moon, in her true form and combat ready. Celestia and Luna sneered.

"Hello again, Tia." Comet smirked. "Let's talk business." He explained, his eyes glowing a crimson red.