Black Gates: Fallen

Daybreaker roared as the massive black clouds filled the sky. “DAMN IT!”

She tried to break the clouds, but they refused to budge, as if something more powerful was controlling them.

“Uugh…” Arkantos muttered.

Daybreaker spun around and grinned. “Maybe not all is lost…” She licked her lips and approached Arkantos. “I may not have the sun… but you human… you survived my wrath.” She reached down and picked him up.

Arkantos didn’t have nearly as much strength as he thought he did. He tried to break free, only to receive a punch to the gut, one that bent and broke his armor.

“No. You’re mine now.” Daybreaker laughed. “Your little whorse will come to get you~” She nearly sung. “And then I’ll have you both…” She grinned evilly, dragging him through the rubble and towards one of the few standing buildings. “Though… you won’t be of much use… so, I will have to kill you. Can’t have any witnesses can I?” She chuckled, throwing him down a flight of stairs and into the basement of the building. “I won’t kill you yet… I want her to break when she witnesses you suffering…”

“And I will make you suffer…”

Meanwhile:

Twilight teleported both herself and her new ‘captive’ to the remains of the Cathedral.

Nightmare Moon was barely conscious, and she didn’t even struggle as Twilight set her down against a wall.

“There… we esc-” Twilight paused as she spun around looking for Arkantos. “W-what? Ark? Where are you?”

Nightmare Moon didn’t say anything snarky, she didn’t even comment. She was lost in thought, did… her own sister really think her worthless? Why help her then… unless Daybreaker just intended to kill her later on.

“Damn it! Where co-”

“Daybreaker most likely has him.” Nightmare said quietly. “She’s going to lay a trap with him… he’ll die either way if you go in alone. And she’ll have you all to herself.” She seemed to have enough strength left to speak.

“DAMN IT!” Twilight growled, though she wasn’t mad at Nightmare. “Damn it… how could I be so stupid?”

“You wanted to escape her… you didn’t do something stupid. You saved yourself.” Nightmare sighed.

“No! He said he was going to protect me… I should have…”

“And he did. Didn’t he? He warned you about her attack, earning her ire if he survived.” Nightmare shook her head. “Ugh… It seems as if Luna is trying to turn the tide…” She looked up at the sky, the heavy black clouds. “My… She cares for you… They both do.”

“Of course the Princesses care about me, Luna’s my friend an-”

“No. Not Celestia.” Nightmare sighed, she didn’t attempt to stand, or use any magic.

“Oh… I… I know he does.” Twilight sighed.

Nightmare cast a single spell. “Luna, if you can hear me…” She choked back a small sob. “I… I’m sorry for what I did…”

Twilight turned to look at Nightmare. Thankfully her plan had worked… saving Nightmare’s life made her regret harming Luna… trying to harm her and Arkantos.

Twilight approached Nightmare Moon, extending her hand out.

Nightmare eyed her wearily. “What do you intend?”

“To get your help… you said I shouldn’t go in alone.” Twilight emphazised this by stretching her fingers out. “C’mon… if you’re truly sorry, then help.”

Nightmare took Twilight’s hand, “Twilight…”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for saving me.” Nightmare said quietly. “Without you… I’d be gone forever.”

“Nightmare…” Twilight began. “Don’t mention it. I… I knew you weren’t evil from the beginning… just… angry. Lonely…”

“Scared.” Luna finished as she appeared beside the two.

Nightmare stumbled back and fell to the ground again, she quickly scooted back. Trying to get away.

“W-what… Oh… Oh please no…” Nightmare babbled, truly scared of the recovered alicorn.

Luna approached Nightmare and hoisted her up. “On your flank, and on the floor is not a good look for a princess.” Luna scolded her doppleganger.

“W-what?” Nightmare babbled.

“When I heard you speak… well, I knew I needed to offer some help.” Luna sighed. “More so then just a simple rain st-”

Luna cut herself off, “What? I just created a few rain clouds…”

Nightmare began to laugh. “Luna… this is a nightmare a few clouds turns into a hurricane!” She smiled, a genuinely happy one. There was no ill intent behind it.

Luna smiled back. “I should have known… and now it’s becoming Daybreaker’s nightmare.” She laughed a little too.

“So, it’s three against one!” Twilight grinned. “Now… we need to locate where she i-”

“Sister isn’t very subtle when she’s angry.” Luna and Nightmare Moon said in unison.

At that a massive beam of light attempted to destroy the clouds above. Only for a moment did sunlight shine through.

In that moment Luna threw up a shield as a barrage of spells hit all around the city. They heard the survivors scream and cry in agony as they were obliterated.

Twilight’s hope that all ponies were redeemable was completely squashed. “She’s…”

“Unlike Nightmare… Daybreaker’s had a chance to fully fester. She’s everything Celestia strives to not be… a cruel and sadistic tyrant. All of her fears, all of her nightmares…”

“I’m… partially to blame for her creation.” Nightmare sighed. “I… never realized how vile she was until…”

“I know. You just wanted revenge for being abandoned… for being forgotten and left alone. We both did.” Luna nodded solemnly. “Now however… we have a chance to destroy her once and for all…”

Twilight nodded. “And save Arkantos.”

“If… and only if we act fast enough. Lest she get bored and kill him just to get at you.” Nightmare added.

Twilight cringed. “We can’t let that happen.” She said firmly.

“I’m… far too weak to be of help in a direct fight…” Nightmare began.

“Then you’ll go locate Ark and help him out.” Twilight said. “Luna and I will combat Daybreaker.”

“Right.” Luna nodded firmly. “And if need be I can slip out to help from a better position.”

Nightmare glanced between the two of them. They were so distracted by Daybreaker now, she smiled a little inwardly. They were trusting her… there was no way she was going to help them, was there? Why should she? She’d be sealed again. She could at least play along, and then strike while they were weak.

“Let’s move fast… the less time we waste the better.” Luna said, the three mares heading back into the ruined city.

The three moved stealthily, thanks to Luna and Twilight’s combined magic. They quickly approached the location where Daybreaker had taken refuge, and where she had taken Arkantos.

“Come out, come out where ever you are… Little pony.” Daybreaker cooed. “I won’t hurt you, Twi… I just want to get closer to you. Isn’t that what you want too?” She sounded eerily like Celestia would have instead of the almost demonic voice she normally spoke with.

“Alright… I’ll get her attention and draw her away.” Twilight began.

“We, will.” Luna corrected. “You can’t fight her alone right now… even cut off from the sun she’s still powerful.”

“I’ll got get Arkantos, and hopefully… if we can clear away a spot without her noticing, he can access the sun.” Nightmare offered, both Luna and Twilight lighting up.

“That’s a great idea!” Twilight smiled.

“I hadn’t even thought of that!” Luna nodded. “That’s our plan then.”

Nightmare was a bit taken aback, but she pushed out another genuine smile. “Alright!”

Luna and Twilight broke, firing spells rapidly at Daybreaker.

“Wha- Don’t think you can win even with two of you!” She cackled firing back at the two.

Nightmare dashed to the house, searching rapidly for the human.

Daybreaker hadn’t missed her and grinned widely. “Good… you’re still alive… maybe you aren’t so worthless after all…” She mused.

She turned her attention back to Twilight and Luna, basically swatting their spells away. Toying with them as she fought a winning battle.

Unbeknownst to Daybreaker the two were actually toying with her.

Twilight surprised Daybreaker a huge amount. She’d managed to copy Nightmare’s blade summoning spell, though it was imperfect. She still charged, joined by Luna striking Daybreaker with a beam.

Daybreaker was forced back under the rapid assault, taken off guard by their coordination.

“Damn it! I won’t lose to you two!” Daybreaker roared.

“What makes you think you’re going to win?” Twilight shouted at her, swinging, albiet with no direction.

“You’re a fool! Don’t you realize what Nightmare’s going to do? She isn’t your friend!” Daybreaker laughed.

Luna and Twilight cringed at the thought of her betraying them. “You’re wrong!” Twilight retorted.

“Oh? Just watch.” Daybreaker licked her lips.

Twilight and Luna’s eyes widened as they saw the blood covering Nightmare’s blades.