The Night To Last Forever

Epilogue: The Night to Last Forever

The streets of the city were largely empty. Every now and again ponies would dash from alley to alley, screaming inanely in panic, trying to avoid the moonlight. Burly soldiers - wielding powerful weaponry - patrolled the streets, keeping their eyes to the ground. The moon hung low in the sky, and it instilled deep fear in everypony.

Moondancer was getting desperate. She had no idea how long she’d been walking for. Without the constant rise and fall of the sun and moon, it was impossible to measure time. All she knew was the walk from Canterlot to Manehattan had been long and arduous. But how long? An hour? A day? It scared her how little she knew. She had no idea what had happened to Canterlot, though she assumed the worst. She’d come here with Celestia’s warning, but she didn’t know who to deliver it to. The soldiers ignored her, and the panicked civilians were too scared to talk.

Rounding a corner, she spotted a tired looking stallion sat in a newspaper stand. He sported a scruffy beard, and from the pained look in his eyes, hadn’t slept properly for a long time. Moondancer approached, before her eyes settled on the headlines of the papers.

ETERNAL NIGHT, OUR PRINCESS IS DEAD

ANCIENT 'NIGHTMARE MOON' RETURNS, WREAKS HAVOC UPON EQUESTRIA

MANEHATTAN - LAST BASTION OF CIVILIZATION - STRUGGLES FOR RESPONSE

Moondancer was awestruck as she stared at the titles. The world was truly ending. It took her a moment to notice the vendor staring down at her.

“You gonna buy something or what? It may be end of days but I gotta job to do. Raising kids ain’t gonna get any cheaper with a demon in charge.”

“Oh, um, no… Listen, I need to speak to someone.. I have urgent news regarding Canterlot. C-Can I speak to the Mayor?”

The vendor scoffed in her face.

“Pfft, what do I look like, his secretary? Besides, word on the street is he ain’t coming out of his office for nopony. Shouldn’t trust anything anymore, he says.”

Moondancer turned away, staring at the newspaper headlines again. Suddenly, the penny dropped.

“…Wait, how do you already know about Nightmare Moon?”

The vendor rubbed his chin in thought.

“Oh, some unicorn rocked up with news. I can’t remember his name. Right posh-type though. He had an interview with the press, told them he was there in Canterlot, by the Princess' side. He tried to fight off the invaders to protect her, but they’d been overrun. The last thing the Princess told him was to run, to get warning to us. He’s been hailed as a hero, you know. The ‘Canterlot Messenger’, they’re calling him. Poncy name, huh? Anyway, he suggested they call in an army, so that’s what the Mayor’s gonna do. Considering we don’t really have an army since Canterlot fell, things are kinda desperate. Current plans to pay the griffins to fight on our behalf. Its gonna cost a leg and a hoof, I tell ya. But some of the scholars mentioned something called a chrysalis, but I don’t know what that is, nor do I care, ‘cos you see…”

Moondancer had completely shut out the stallion’s voice. Truly crushed, she sank to the floor, before staring up into the moon. Tears rushed down her face. She had no life in this city, demise was inevitable, and her one chance to help this world had been stolen from under her by Blueblood. What was the point in going on? What horror had she left behind?

***

Ponyville was a ghost-town. Buildings fell into disarray; their corrupt owners having relocated to the walled city high above. Only the sick and feeble remained, those deemed too weak to fight by Nightmare Moon’s side, or to birth her young. Somehow Mayor Mare had escaped, and now her stocks sat empty; a haunting reminder of the tyrant that had torn through town.

Canterlot, in contrast, looked calm in the cool glow of the moonlight. At a distance, it was almost tranquil, as if nothing had ever changed. The destruction was being rapidly repaired. The outer wall, torn down in the assault, was already being rebuilt. Strong stallions - empowered by Nightmare Moon’s corruption – scaled the wreckage, laying new bricks and mortar. Canterlot Castle was also seeing repairs. The vast hole torn in the wall by the rampaging dragon was rapidly patched up, returning the dungeon to its former glory.

A dungeon that, deep below Canterlot, still operated.

Several ponies rushed around the room. They were adorned with medical garbs, and some wielded various pieces of apparatus. In the center of the room, an unfortunate mare.

Celestia was stood on all fours. Her legs were locked in place by two steel spreader-bars, both of which were affixed to the floor. Hanging from the ceiling, several chains and shackles. These were bound around her neck and torso, also working to hold her in place. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t lie down. She could do nothing but stand there. Hanging below her torso, her belly, as weighty and distended as ever. Rested on the floor in front of her were several large barrels of swill, which served as her breakfast, lunch and dinner. But despite it all, she was giddy with excitement as she spoke.

“Er, er, Miss Nurse! I can feel Master’s foals kicking! I think they’re going to be born soon! Ooh, I’m so excited! Will Master be coming back down when they are born? Will I get to see her again? Oh, I hope I do! It’s been at least a day since she bred me last! I can’t wait that long again! Please tell me Master will be coming for me soon?! Please!”

“Oh, don’t worry, my sweet Sister. I’m here for you.”

The voice floated in from the dungeon stairwell.

“Oh! Oh! Master Nightmare Moon! Is that you? Is it!? Is it!?”

“Yes, my dear. Don’t worry. The Master is here to make you happy.”