The Nightmare

It all started when Celestia and Luna began their rule after the defeat of Discord with the Elements of Harmony. Celestia was beloved by all and everypony enjoyed her beautiful day. However, not so much was Luna's night. The ponies of Equestria would simply sleep the night away, leaving Luna angry and bitter, feelings that only continued to fester as the years wore on. Luckily, Celestia detected the dark presence within her sister and managed to purge it through a combination of her own magic and the Elements of Harmony. However, to the sister’s shock the Darkness formed into its own being, calling herself Nightmare Moon. Celestia tried to subdue her with her magic, but she managed to avoid the spell. However, despite this setback, Celestia was able to save her sister and that was all that mattered to her.

“Sister, I'm so sorry. I should’ve realized how you were feeling after all this time." Celestia said on the verge of tears.

"Please, don't apologize sister, I admit part of the blame falls with me. If I had just been more clear on my own emotions, perhaps we could have avoided this.” “For now, there is the matter of what to do about this Nightmare Moon. Just what in Equestria is she?”

"It would appear that your darker emotions were intense enough to manifest into another being. I’m not sure exactly how that’s possible, but I assure you we will resolve this."

"Ha! You think I'm afraid of my weaker half and my oh so regal sister" Nightmare Moon said with an evil grin.

"You are no sister of mine." Celestia said in a very loud tone

"And I am not weak." Luna added.

We'll see, soon the night will last forever and you will be nothing but a footnote in the history of my reign of this country. Be prepared my dear siblings, the night is coming, and it isn’t alone.” Those last words were spoken with a particularly sinister edge, yet neither could question her, as with a single flash of dark magic she was gone leaving the alicorn sisters to dwell on the events that just happened, though not for very long.

"Princesses!" A guard ran into the room,a panicked look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Luna asked.

"The statue of Discord it's gone!"

"Nightmare Moon. So that’s what she meant by not alone. If she were to free Discord, I doubt there’d be any force that could stop them." Celestia said, a sense of dread creeping within her.
“Calm yourself sister, as far as we know she hasn’t the means to free him, thus we should be alright for now.” However, she still felt uneasy, looking back at the Elements of Harmony, “Though, I do agree we should be ready for the worst and be prepared to encase him should he return.”

"Indeed sister. Guard assemble the Royal Guard, we need to take immediate action. The fate of Equestria depends on it.”

"At one Princess Celestia," he said, bowing to both Alicorns before leaving the throne room

As the Alicorn sisters prepared their guards in a far off portion of Equestria, long forgotten and abandoned by time, the newly formed Nightmare Moon mulled over her plan to free Discord and takeover the country.

"Once I release Discord, there won’t be a creature in Equestria that can stop me. Now that just leaves the matter of freeing him. Though how hard could it be." Nightmare Moon said with a sly smile, fully confident in her abilities. With a massive flash of power, her horn flared with immense magic energy, before firing a large dark blue beam directly at the statue. However, despite hitting the mark, once the dust cleared, to her frustration the statue still remained.

Her eyes narrowed on the statue. "This might take longer than I anticipated."

Despite having learned a lot about Discord whilst inside Luna’s mind, she’d never learned how to release him. Though she supposed it made sense, after all why would they intentionally free the all powerful Spirit of Chaos. Regardless, that was a thought for another time as she saw the sun rising and exhaustion finally setting in, Nightmare Moon laid down to sleep and wait for her moment to arrive. .

Sadly this proved to be easier said than done. Despite spending months using all manner of spells, nothing Nightmare Moon succeeded in free the Spirit of Chaos. Thankfully for her, after some time passed a new option became available to her.