Chapters Long ago, in that deep regions of what is now the Everfree Forest, there stood a large castle. A castle that was home to the two rulers of Equestria. Legend has it that the eldest sister, Princess Celestia, was born to control the day time hours. While the youngest, Princess Luna, watched over the night. Each sister worked harmoniously to maintain balance throughout the land known as Equestria.
Luna stood at her balcony, watching as Celestia raised the sun for the day. Watching the ponies slowly rouse from their sleep, Luna felt something deep inside her raise to the surface, as she felt as if she were about to cry.
“Why? What is so special about Celestias’ sun that they love? Why don’t they like my night? Is it because my light doesn’t shine as bright?” Luna asked herself, going inside and closing the door.
Not bothering to go back to her bed, Luna collapsed and leaned against the door, allowing herself to cry.
As years passed, Princess Luna grew more jealous. Resentment of her elder sister continued to grow. Luna watched night after night as the ponies played in her sisters’ warm light, while they slept in her gentle moon light. As the time went on, that feeling that nopony appreciated the hard work that went into creating the wonders of the night, started to become more of a fact than a feeling in Luna’s mind.
One day, Princess Luna became depressed. Rage and sadness built up over time, and eventually she reached a point that she had never been to before, as she realized that it was the time of the year where Celestias’ sun stayed in the sky the longer than in the winter. With a touch of curiosity as well as not knowing what else to do, Luna finally spoke her mind.
“Tia?” Luna called out, softly knocking on her sister’s bedroom door.
The door became engulfed in a golden aura and swung open, revealing the Sun goddess herself.
“Luna? I thought that you would still be asleep.”
Walking into the room, Luna saw Celestia at her desk doing some paperwork.
“I need to talk to you. I was wondering if you could lower the sun early? Give my night a chance to be seen perhaps?”
“Luna, you know I can’t do that.” Celestia sighed, walking over to her window.
“For me to lower the sun early, would cause an imbalance in the world. It would throw off the balance of Equestria. You know that as well as I do.”
Luna didn't understand what was so special about her sisters ‘precious light’. What makes it so much more important than the beauty that is night?
“Or is it that you want the light all for yourself! You have always hated my night! You just don't want to admit it to me! Nopony in this world appreciates the work that goes into creating such a masterpiece!” Luna yelled, not realizing she was going to until she did.
Surprised, Celestia took a step back and turned around to face Luna. Speaking softly, she placed a hoof over Luna's shoulder.
“Of course, not. I am not more important than you, Luna. And of course I love your night. It's a beautiful thing what you make for the ponies of Equestria. Where is this coming from?”
“Then why must you and they insist on ignoring it like some worthless trash and sleep through it?!” Luna continued fumingly.
“Because ponies like you and I need sleep. It's is the same as it would be when you sleep during the day. Other ponies get tired after a long day of working, so they need rest. You know that, Luna!”
Shrugging off her sisters hoof, Luna turned around to leave. Without another word, Luna walked out of the room bedroom and went into the throne room.
“My night is a beautiful thing. Why can’t they see that?” She muttered to herself, pacing on a ledge behind the thrones.
“Luna, come down and talk to me! Please!” Celestia called, entering the throne room.
As Luna turned around to face Celestia, something had finally snapped in her.
“Leave me alone!” Luna yelled, firing a bolt of energy at her sister.
“Can you just talk to me? I’m sure we can work something out.”
“I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!” Luna bellowed using her Royal Canterlot voice.
“Luna please! I want to help you! We can talk about this!” Celestia begged.
“There is nothing to talk about! You obviously think your light is superior over the wonders of the night! I thought we would have been able to talk this out civilly! But apparently that just is not going to happen!
Celestia rubbed her temple in frustration. Taking a deep breath, she tried to reason with her sister again.
“Alright. Obviously we both need time to cool off. It's almost time for me to lower the sun. We'll talk about this in the morning sister. Until then, you need to do your duty.”
“But tomorrow it will be too late!”
“IT IS NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION LUNA!!”
Having her sister lash out at her made Luna gasp in fright. All anger in Celestias' eyes washed away immediately as she realized the way she spoke to her little sister.
“Oh Luna...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. Can you forgive me?”
“GO AWAY!! YOU OBVIOUSLY HATE THE FACT THAT THE NIGHT IS SO MUCH MORE GLORIOUS THAN THE DAY! SO JUST GO AWAY!!” Luna yelled as she galloped away from the premises.
With her head hung low, Celestia could only whisper to herself.
“I'm sorry, sister.”
From that day on. The fate of Equestria would change for the next 1,000 years. Eventually it would become a way of life and ponies would get used to it. But for Celestia, this would be a night that she will never forget.
This is the story about how the demon known throughout history as Nightmare Moon, came to be...
Author's Note
Credit for this chapter goes to Calming Moon for helping me modify this chapter. Thank you!
The Princess of the Night walked slowly down one of the many hallways in the castle, occasionally passing by one of her Bat-Pony guards who would give a quick “hello” or simply nod their head. Though Luna barely noticed. With her head held low she made her way to the lunch room. Upon her arrival she finds herself a seat and is soon greeted by the castle chef.
“Evening Princess. What can I get you this fine evening?” He asked.
“What is wrong with my night?!” Luna asked with panic in her voice.
“Uh, come again?” The chef asks slightly puzzled.
Luna narrows her eyes dangerously at him.
“I did not stutter. What. Is. Wrong. With. My. Night?” She asked again.
“What do you mean Princess?”
“Why do the ponies feel that they must sleep during the night rather than the day? You and all my bat pony guards sleep during day, do you not?”
“Well, yes. But the ponies of Equestria–”
“Are insulting! All my hard work that I put into creating the night is for nothing if they choose to not enjoy it's beauty! Surely you agree with me, yes?”
“W-Well, not exactly...ponies aren't like us, you see. They need sleep during the night as a way to be fueled for the day.”
“LIES! If you and I do not require sleep during night hours, they are no exception!!”
“But Princess–”
“GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!!!”
“But–”
“Unless you wish to lose your job you shall leave me this second!!!”
“Yes your highness! My apologies!”
The chef quickly makes himself scarce and leaves. Luna remains seated for a few moments before she too gets up and begins to stroll down the hallway. For a few minutes she is silent. The only sounds to be heard are the ‘clip-clop’ of her hooves against the floor. Head hung low, Luna bites back her anger temporarily as she treks down the long hallway.
Finally, Luna brings her head up and looks at the world through a large window. She takes a deep breath and begins a harmonious melody.
“Now the hour has come at last, the soft and fading light. Has crossed the west horizon, and bidden us goodnight. And what a lovely night it is, to walk a moonlit field.”
Luna continued looking out the window as Celestias' sun set for the night.
“To see the softer shades thar are by starlight now revealed. So why it is that now, when all is quiet and at rest. When candles glow and all the world is at its very best.”
Luna walked down the corridor, unaware that the castles own Mage, Starswirl the Bearded was watching her from the ground level.
“The ponies of Equestria, should lock themselves away? To shun the moon and wait instead for sister's sunny day!”
(In umbra Luna est)
As the song picked up, the transformation began. As the transformation grew, so did Lunas' hatred and anger. Lunas' pupils went from normal to little slits.
“ Am I so wrong to wish that they could see things like I do?! And am I so wrong to think that they might love me too?!”
Images of ponies appeared in front of Luna and began bowing to her. The images soon disappeared as quickly as they appeared. The scene changes to an image of a group of ponies bowing in front of a larger image of Celestia.
“ Why shouldn't they adore me? Is it not within my right?”
In a fit of anger, Luna flared her wings and stomped her front hooves on the ground as the doors behind her swung wide open, causing the images to blow away in the wind. Much like the images, the anger in Luna's eyes disappeared only to be quickly replaced by a look of determination as she stared out into the sky.
“ I'll not be overshadowed! Mine is not the lesser light! I've waited long enough now! For them all to come around! And though the Sun may plead and threaten! The Moon will stand her ground!”
Luna's horn glowed a light blue before firing a bolt of energy into the sky. The energy traveled up and up, until it finally hit the moon and transformed the whole sky from dark night blue, to blood red. The scene panned outward to show Princess Celestia fast asleep in her room.
“ It has come to this at last, I will no longer yield the sky. If they cannot love but one princess alone!”
Starswirl watched Luna from behind a wall. The Princess of the Night smiled with a crazed look in her eyes as she bellowed her song into the night sky.
“ See, the moon is rising! She has come to claim the heavens for her own! And all will know the wonders! Of my dark and jeweled sky!! When all the world is wrapped in an eternal lullaby! SO SAY GOODNIGHT!! To this, the final setting of the Sun!!Tomorrowdawnsindarkness, , TimehasBEGUN!!!”
(Nocte)
As the song drew closer to the end, Luna's voice began to change, becoming deeper and higher in pitch. The final part of the transformation happened as Luna's fur turned from deep blue to pitch black, her teeth grew sharp and razor like, she grew in height, and her large feathered wings lost their feathers and were replaced by wings that were not unlike a bat. Watching this, Starswirl the Bearded turned around and ran into the library while Nightmare Moon bellowed with laughter.
“Ha ha ha ha ha ha!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!”
Meanwhile Starswirl made his way through the library and approached Celestias' bedroom and was met by two guards.
“State your business Wizard!”
“I must see Celestia immediately! It concerns her sister! Please!”
“We will let her know you request her attention.”
The guards turned and enter Celestias' room before waking her from her sleep.
“Your Highness? Starswirl wishes to speak with you.”
Celestia awoke and spoke half annoyed and half groggy.
“What is it? Can it not wait until tomorrow?”
“Not according to him your Highness. He says it concerns Princess Luna.”
Celestias' eyes widened in surprise and fear before she spoke.
“Tell him I'll be with him in a moment.”
Both guards bowed low to the Princess.
“At once your Highness.” One of them says before they both walk out of the room.
“She'll be with you in a moment.”
“Thank you.”
After a few more seconds, Princess Celestia opened the door to her room before beckoning the old wizard inside.
Starswirl walked inside and saw Celestia looking at him with an expressionless face.
“I'm told you have information on my sister?”
“Yes your Highness.”
“What is it? Is she okay?”
“She is unharmed. However, I don't think she's the same Luna you know and love. She's...different. Not herself. I watched her transform before my eyes. She's more like a demon now. Almost as if something has possessed her and is now controlling her body.”
“Where is she now?”
“In the throne room I believe.”
“You stay here and alert the guards in case I do not return. I know not what has happened to my dear sister, but it is not her you have seen. It is something else. I'll see to it that this monster is dealt with.”
“How will you do that your majesty?”
“Whatever I have to do. No matter the cost.”
Author's Note
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! I do not own ‘The Moon Rises’ song or anything related to the song other than this story. All credit for the inspiration of this story goes to Ponyphonics. Animation belongs to Duo Cartoonist on YouTube. Link to the video is below.
The Moon Rises Animation
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter!
Celestia quickly made her way down the corridor toward the throne room. As she got closer she could hear the bellowing laughter of her sister...or at least what used to be her sister. She enters the throne room and looks on in fright at what she sees. Luna has transformed into some kind of bat-pony hybrid, not unlike her royal guards. Except Luna is pitch black and stands much taller than her normal slight green guards.
“Luna!!”
Surprised, the changed alicorn spins around to see her sister glaring at her. Seeing this causes her to growl.
“Luna! Listen to me! It doesn't have to be this way!”
“SILENCE!! Luna is gone! I am...Nightmare Moon!! I am the only rightful ruler of Equestria! With all of Equestria at my mercy! I shall show them the true meaning of what it is like to fear the night!!”
Celestia stomps a hoof in anger.
“No Luna! You know why you cannot do that! It is and always be your duty to lower the moon when morning approaches! Please listen to me! You must lower the moon!!”
The night princess smirks evilly.
“No. No longer is controlling the moon my duty. I have only one royal duty now. To destroy you and anypony that gets in my way!!!”
Nightmare Moon fires a bolt of magic at the sun goddess. Celestia manages to dodge it by mere centimeters. On instinct Celestia fires back, barely missing her opponent and blowing a hole in the roof above them. Nightmare Moon smirks.
“HAHAHAHAHA!!! Is that all you've got?! I should have overthrown you centuries ago!”
“Luna! I know you are in there!!! You have to fight! This thing is controlling you! This is not the sister I know and love!!”
“Oh spare me your overbearing sentiment! Luna is gone! I am in control now! And once you are out of the way! I shall rule Equestria and all shall plunge into eternal night!!”
Nightmare Moon fires a bolt of energy at the Sun goddess, hitting her in the left front knee. Celestia bites her lip and grunts from the pain.
“I will not fight you Luna! You must fight this demon! I have faith!”
“SILENCE!! I SHALL NOT HEAR THAT PATHETIC MARES NAME IN MY PRESENCE!! NOW KNEEL!!”
The ruler of the Moon fires another magical energy beam at Celestia, hitting her on the right side of her breast. Celestia yelps in agonizing pain.
“L-Luna!! Please! You have to fight it! Do it for me!!”
“SILENCE!! ”
Nightmare Moon delivers a hard rear kick to Celestias muzzle, a loud sickening crack rips through the air as blood starts seeping out her nostrils. Celestia reels back, falling on her back in pain. Nightmare Moon walks up with an evil sneer.
“I will ask one last time. KNEEL!!!”
Fighting through the pain. Celestia glares at the demon.
“I...will NEVER kneel before you creature!!”
Nightmare Moon stares at Celestia with a soft glare.
“Then you will die futilely trying to protect your precious kingdom!”
Nightmare Moons horn glows with a deep blue aura as she aims the tip directly at Celestia's heart.
“NO!”
Celestia pushes off the ground with a powerful flap of her wings, shooting off into the night sky like a bullet. She just barely misses getting hit with a energy beam that demolishes the statue behind her. Nightmare Moon looks up with a smirk.
“And WHERE do you think YOU'RE going?!!”
Nightmare Moon takes off into the sky in pursuit of Celestia. With Nightmare Moon tailing behind her, Celestia desperately tries to dodge each shot from Nightmare Moon's horn, destroying buildings and towers along the way. In one last attempt to get a leg up on the demon of the darkness, Celestia flies high up into the air whilst charging her horn for an attack.
However, this proves futile as Nightmare Moon is one step ahead, firing a dark blue beam of magic at the white alicorn, hitting her square in the chest, causing Celestia to cry out in pain.
“AAAAGH!!”
The force and heat of the blast sends Celestia plummeting to the earth and falls through the hole in the ceiling of the castle. Nightmare watches the scene with a grin as she screams in maniacal laughter.
“Hahahahahahaha!! HAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”
Celestia hits the ground with a loud thud, knocking the wind out of her and knocking her unconscious. She remains still for a few moments before shakily standing to her hooves. She clenches her eyes shut, gritting her teeth in anger and sadness.
‘I will do whatever I have to do. No matter the cost...'
Celestia takes a deep, shaky breath as tears leak out of her eyes.
“Oh dear sister...I am sorry...but you have given me no choice, but to use THESE!”
Charging her horn, Celestia opens the floor in the center of the throne room, revealing five crystal-like objects in several different colors. One pink. One red. One orange. One, blue. And purple. Celestia hovers over a large orb levitating the five crystals before lifting a large pink crystal shaped like a star out of the orb. Levitating the objects closer to her they start to spin around her rapidly, causing her to be surrounded by a rainbow light before she flies into the sky. This attracts Nightmare Moons attention as her eyes glow pure white and her horn begins to glow before firing a shot of magic at her.
With tears in her eyes, Celestia fires a rainbow colored beam at the demon, blocking her magic. Within seconds the rainbow beam pushes the blue aura back before swallowing Nightmare Moon whole, causing her to scream in defeat.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
Seconds later the rainbow shoots further up into the sky and travels up into the moon, leaving a large unicorn head shaped crater in the moon. Celestia stares at the newly formed crater for a few seconds before letting out a series of sobs and shouting into the sky.
“I-I'm so sorry sister. I had no choice. I hope that one day you forgive me...(hic) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!”
Celestias screams travel through the night sky. After a few moments she lowers herself back into the castle, disposing of the crystals back into their hiding place and making her way back to her room. Upon walking down the hallway she is intercepted by the castle guards.
“Princess Celestia! Are you alright?! Where is the demon?!!”
She breathes deeply trying to stop her sobs.
“I-It's over...the creature has been dealt with...she will not be terrorizing us anymore...now if you'll excuse me. I would like to retire to my quarters.”
The guards bow before walking away.
“Yes Your Highness.”
The doors to Celestia's room were surrounded by a golden aura before swinging open and Celestia walked through. She kept her emotions in check until the doors close. She climbed up into her bed and buried her face into the nearest pillow before letting out loudly muffled screams and sobs. After a few moments she lifted her face out of the pillow and sobbed again.
“L-Luna...I-I'm so sorry! I never wanted this to happen!”
She looked over to a picture of the two princesses as fillies. The picture showed Princess Celestia laying in the grass with a much younger Princess Luna laying on top of her head. Both fillies presenting a wide smile across their muzzles. This only makes Celestia sob harder.
Meanwhile outside the princesses quarters. Starswirl the Bearded approached the doors before being blocked off by the guards.
“The princess is not to be disturbed Wizard.”
“Please just let me in. I can help her. I can help her cope.”
“I'm afraid we can't do that. The Princess is in deep emotional pain. It's best that she is not disturbed for the time being.”
Starswirl glared at the two Pegasi guards.
“Let me pass. Or I will have to use force.”
This alerts the guards as they aimed their spears at the Wizards chest.
“Is that a threat old stallion?”
Starswirl narrowed his eyes.
“It's a guarantee.”
“Starswirl the Bearded, you are under arrest for threatening two officers of the Royal Guard of Princess Celestia. You have the right to remain silent.”
Starswirl grinned as he charges his horn.
“As do you...”
The Mage casted a sleep spell on the two guards, causing them to fall over into a deep sleep. Starswirl breathed deeply before pushing the doors open. Celestia, unaware of his presence continues sobbing. He slowly walks up to her before placing a gentle hoof on her shoulder. She jumped, startled.
“O-Oh...Hello Starswirl. What can I do for you?”
“Nothing Princess. The question is What can I do for YOU?”
Princess Celestia looked away from the old stallion.
“I-I don't know what you are on about. But I am fine I assure you.”
He shook his head.
“No Princess you aren't. I'm sorry to hear about your sister. I wish there had been a better outcome. I can only imagine the pain you are feeling right now.”
“S-She's gone Starswirl...gone. I sent her away...to the moon! WHY DID IT HAVE TO HAPPEN LIKE THIS?!!”
“Princess, please. I know this is hard for you. It's hard for all of us to accept that sweet little Luna would turn on us...but you mustn't beat yourself up over it. It wasn't your fault.”
“IT'S MY FAULT SHE WAS SENT TO THE MOON!!”
“PRINCESS CELESTIA!! STOP THIS FOOLISHNESS RIGHT NOW!! Now you listen here! What happened is NOT your fault! This was Luna's doing! It is tragic what has become of her, but for ponys sake you did what you had to do!”
“T-Then why does it hurt so much...”
He sighed deeply.
“Sometimes the decisions that we have to make...are the decisions that are the hardest to make. But they have to be done for the betterment of Equestria. I know you are feeling deep sorrow and pain. But it will get better over time. I'm sorry that this is causing you great pain.”
Starswirl took his hoof off her shoulder and silently left her quarters. She watched him exit and close the doors behind him before dropping her head with a sigh.
“You have no idea....”
