The Nightmare

Following the defeat of King Sombra and the liberation of the Crystal Empire, Equestria was blessed with a time of peace that seemed to have no end.

Over the centuries many ponies remained ignorant of what had taken place so long ago, with the tales of Sombra and Nightmare Moon becoming simply the stuff of fairy tales and legends.

It was also during this time, that Celestia took a young unicorn named Twilight Sparkle as her personal student, who was already proving to be a prodigy with magic potential unlike any they’d seen in the past. As for Luna, she was still concerned about Nightmare Moon's return, knowing it was a matter of when not if she will return. Still, Luna had kept her mind occupied, s helping rebuild the royal guards numbers, with one of particular note being Shining Armor.

This stallion was recruited at a relatively a young age, yetrose up the become the captain in a relatively short amount of time. As an interesting twist, he also happened to be Twilight's older brother.

In spite of Luna’s concerns, she’d yet to receive any kind of confirmation about the presence of Nightmare Moon, anywhere in Equestria. Ye, she still remained alert for her return, while secretly hoping that wouldn’t come. These were the thoughts plaguing her mind on this particular day..

The day in question was the Summer Sun Celebration. Celestia had chosen to send Twilight and her number one assistant Spike a young baby dragon who Twilight hatched from an egg herself as part of her test to enter Celestia’s school for Gifted Unicorns. She’d be sent to a small town called Ponyville, with the intention being to oversee preparations for the Celebration, but Celestia’s main reason being for her student, who emphasized books and study over social interaction, to make some friends.

While the intention was understandable, Shining Armor wasn’t especially happy to learn about his sister being sent away, and opted to express his concerns to Princess Luna.

"Princess, I don't want to question Princess Celestia's decision or the path she has planned for Twilight but does she have to move."

" I understand your concern for your sister Shining Armor, but you must trust Celestia's vision for her growth as a pony. Besides, it's not like you'll never see her again. Ponyville is hardly a long distance from her." Luna even pointed to a nearby window, from which both could easily see Ponyville in the distance.

"I suppose you’re right Princess Luna. I just worry about Twilight is all. Back when we were younger, I was her closest friend." He chuckled as he flashed back to his and his sister’s earlier years. “She even called me her BBBFF.”

“BBBFF?”

“Uh, Big Brother Best Friend Forever.”

That meritted a long laugh from the Princess of the Night, gleefully imagining a younger Twilight calling her brother by such an adorable nickname. “She’s quite attached to you isn’t she?”

“Yeah, can you really blame me for being a little worried.”

Luna merely offered him a comforting hoof. “I do understand, Celestia and I were much the same way as foals, I even acted much like Twilight and I believe that’s why Celestia is doing this. Breaking out of my shell and interacting with other ponies was something I needed and Celestia knows it’ll be as good for Twilight as it was for me. Trust her.”

Shining simply nodded, “Yeah, you’re right. I shouldn’t worry so much, I guess I just can’t help myself.”

The Princess’s face grew a smirk, though a shy smirk, as her face grew a noticeable blush. "Well, I believe I know a way to help you forget." Luna then wrapped a hoof around the Captain’s next and looked him lovingly in the eyes.

"Princess!"

"Call me Luna, Shiny, we’re alone, we don’t need to be secretive about our relationship and I want to help you forget about your worry when it comes to Twilight and I have the perfect means to do so.." She then locked the Captain in a deep kiss, which he was quick to return as the pair grew much hotter and heavier in their intimate contact before moving to the bedroom.

In the time since Shining had become Captain of the Guard, Luna had on more than one occasion met with him, primarily to discuss matters of security and protection. Despite the years of peace, she still felt a near constant sense of unease and had made it a sort of hobby in studying and discussing security practices, even designing a few traps for intruders.

Naturally at first things started out purely professionally. Luna made suggestions to Shining and he would oblige and listen. However, as time passed the two, due to the frequency of the meetings, became fast friends. To the surprise of Shining, Luna’s interest in security and military matters had led her to developing an interest in strategy based games, which offered another connection between the two ponies, which eventually led into them forming a mutual attraction to the other. So much so that they became a couple in secret. And after a few months Shining surprised the Princess of the Night with a marriage proposal she didn’t accept right then because she didn’t know what her sister would think about it but Luna promised that she would answer the question as soon as she could.

However, they’d kept the matter secret for some time, if only to avoid the potential scandal it could cause. Even Celestia was completely unaware of what was going on, having found herself busy with the matters of running the day to day of Canterlot. While Luna did feel guilty about keeping such a thing from her sister, she still ignored the feeling if only because she’d never felt as happy as she did in such a long time. And now she wanted to take the next step.

After what seemed like hours of intimacy, the Princess of the Night and the Captain of the Guard were laying in the Princess’s private chambers, it currently night and thus every pony being asleep at the time. The couple mulling over their current issues.

“I don’t understand why you’re so against us revealing out relationship Shiny. We’ll need to do it eventually.”

“I know, I guess it just feels a little…..I don’t know. I mean aren’t your worried how other ponies will react. I mean I’m not a Prince or even a noble. I’d hate to think about your reputation suffering because of me.”

Luna responded, simply by kissing the Captain on the cheek meriting, turning his white fur scarlet. “Don’t be so foolish. I hardly concern myself with how other ponies percieve me. As long as I have you in my life, I can deal with a few judgmental looks and a bit of mild gossip. Besides, I’m a Princess, what can they do?”

Shining effectively chuckled, “Guess I don’t really have any excuses do I? Then again, I feel the same way. I want everyone to know how much you mean to me and I won’t let anypony stand in the way of that. I want to be with you, forever.”

"I accept" Luna said, her tone suddenly become much more giddy that Shining had been expecting.

"I'm sorry what?"

"I will accept you proposal for marriage, Prince Shining Armor."

The now christened Prince, found himself a little surprised and unnerved by this new development. Granted it wasn’t that he didn’t consider the idea of marrying Luna, he certainly loved her enough to consider such an action, but not right this instance.

As such he. tentatively, made his next move. “That’s wonderful Luna. Though, are you okay with that? I mean don’t you think we’re moving a little fast?”

Luna however, looked him square in his face and he could tell right then and there she was completely serious about this. “Shiny, in my life I

The couple kissed to celebrate their engagement then Shining resumed his lovemaking with the Princess of the Night. This continued well past the night, until it was time for Celestia to take over and raise the sun.

She quietly left her room and made her way towards the balcony to begin the task, only for her to walk past Luna’s door and to her surprise, hear more than one voice, snoring. Curious, she made her way towards her sisters door and opened it as quietly as possible to avoid arousing any attention.

Cracking it open just enough to avoid any light hitting the bed, Celestia had to shove a hoof in her mouth to avoid yelping in surprise at the sight of her sister and her student’s older brother in bed together.

Thankfully she was able to quickly push down the scream and recompose herself, though she looked upon the pair with a mixture of surprise and a little annoyance. “And just when did this happen? I suppose it’s a good thing I sent Twilight away yesterday, explaining this to her would most certainly not be a short affair.”

While Celestia was falling behind schedule slightly in raising the sun, this development, required some attention and she opted to deal with it now rather than later. So she let out a loud cough, falling back slightly on the Royal Canterlot Voice to give it a little more bite.

"My, it appears you have an eventful and exhausting night didn’t you? Sister, Captain"

Just for some extra emphasis, Celestia used her magic to raise the sun up, just enough to where it peaked over the horizon and had light come in through Luna’s window, right in the sleeping couple’s face. The combination of Celestia’s amplified voice and the sun in their face, awoke both ponies, who immediately froze in terror at the sight of Celestia, looking upon them with an almost unreadable expression.

“Celestia, I can…”

"Sister get cleaned up, it is time for the ceremony, Captain go have a shower." Celestia said, cutting the pair off. Shining Armor saw no cause to argue, trying to ignore the embarrassment of the situation and readied to comply, only for Luna to stop him.

"Wait Shining, before we go sister there is something we must tell you."

Celestia looked upon the pair, curious. “I trust it’s goes beyond the revelation of your nightly activities.”

Both ponies blushed at the obvious implication but shook it off as Luna pulled Shining Armor close. “We’re engaged now sister.”

The two ponies then sat quietly, waiting for Celestia’s response, slightly terrified at how she would react to the news.

“Oh, well that’s wonderful you to. I’m very happy for your, though I do wish you’d have told me this sooner, rather than having to find out like this.”

Shining Armor, caught off guard by the nonchalant response, simply offered the only words he could think. "I’m sorry Princess Celestia, it won't happen again." Luna could only nod as well.

“Well I’m glad to hear that, now if you’ll excuse me I need to raise the sun. Don’t forget our appointment later Luna and Shining Armor, I was serious about the shower.”

With that the Princess of the Sun left her sister and future brother in law alone, both needing a moment to process all that happened to them in the span of a couple minutes.

Once Luna had finally regained her composure, she said goodbye to Shining Armor and headed to the Sun Raising Ceremony with her sister, now standing before a massive crowd of cheering ponies, all eager to start.”

“Mares and Gentlecolts,welcome to the Summer Sun Celebration.” Luna announced, her voice echoing across the courtyard, meritying cheers from the ponies as her horn lite up, slowly working to lower the moon. However, as the moon made its descent, Luna was struck by a beam of dark magic, sending her hurtling to the ground.

A maniacal cackling was heard throughout the area, as Celestia looked towards the sky, and to her growing anger, she spotted Nightmare Moon hovering above them, her horn still smoking from the cast spell.

"Sorry Princesses, but I’m afraid this celebration is over as well as anything to do with that wretched sun of yours Celestia. " Nightmare Moon said as she descended, several soldiers clad in dark purple armor appearing at her side. “The Age of Night, has finally arrived.”

Celestia, furious at the attack on Luna, fired a spell right at Nightmare Moon, only for one of her soldiers to take the blast, being scorched by its heat, much to the horror of the onlooking ponies.

Nightmare Moon only chuckled at the display. “I’m afraid it won’t be as easy as last time Celestia. After the Crystal Empire, I’ve been gathering an army of my own and as you just saw, they’re more than willing to die for me.” Her horn started to pulsate with dark magic, as more of her soldiers appeared behind her, while Celestia geared up another spell.

“Equestria is mine now.”

Moon and Celestia both fired spells which collided, sending a shockwave that knocked every pony nearby off their hooves. Luna, who’d finally recovered from the sneak attack, quickly started ordering all the ponies in the area to flee while readying herself to fight against her doppleganger.

Once the crowd escaped, the only parties who remained were Nightmare Moon, her army, along with the Princesses, the Royal Guard and strangely enough, six ponies who’d been placed in charge of the celebration.

The fight itself quickly descended into a mindless melee with both sides trading blows, magic and attacks. In the midst of the chaos, Celestia was still clashing with Nightmare Moon, with Luna desperately trying to reach her sister. However, she quickly found herself cornered by several of Nightmare’s soldiers. Yet none of them could get off an attack, as they were all blasted aside by a powerful burst, courtesy of Shining Armor.

"Princess Luna, are you alright?"

"Yes Captain,but your sister and her friends need your help make sure they find the Elements of Harmony. I hope we will not need them, but we must be sure. In the meantime I will help my sister, hopefully we can finish Nightmare Moon once and for all." Luna said taking off into the sky.

"Okay, you heard Princess Luna, we need to help my sister and her friends."

"YES CAPTAIN" the rest of the guards responded to their captain's call and followed as he lead to them in to the brawl.

The guards quickly spotted the group of six ponies, who surprisingly were holding their own against the horde of enemy soldiers. Between Twilight’s magic, Applejack’s strength, Rainbow’s speed and Pinkie’s unusual tactics, one would be mistaken in believing they were soldiers themselves.

"Twily are you alright?" Before she could answer her brother's question,she was distracted one of Nightmare Moon's elite guards fired a spell at her, only for Shining to block it with a shield and retaliate with his own attack.

"Shining Armor, I’d glad you’re okay. What’s going on?" Twilight asked with concern for her brother, with the other five mares quickly gathering around him.

"No time to explain, Princess Luna and Celestia need the six of you to find the Elements of Harmony so we can end this battle.”."

"The Elements of Harmony?" Twilight asked her older brother, who quickly offered an explanation as to the nature of the elements.

As this was occuring a massive explosion was heard in the distance, a result of the three way battle between Celestia, Luna and Nightmare Moon.

"Ha is this the best you both can do,” Moon laughed, casually blocking their spells with a shield.

"I’ve waited for this day for millenia you vile creature. Enjoy your taunts, for this will be the last night you ever see ." Luna shouted at her evil side before resuming the magic battle, firing a powerful blast at Moon, who quickly dodged it, only to be hit in the back by Celestia’s own spell.

“Give it up Moon, you couldn’t defeat as 1000 years ago, even when you had Sombra at your side. What hope could you have now?”

Nightmare Moon growled angrily at the Princess of the Sun, only to quickly duck to avoid another attack by Luna. Her eyes turned to the battlefield and her confidence slowly returned at the sight of more of her soldiers arriving.

“It would seem the tide is turning in my favor. True I may not have the power of two alicorns at my command, but with my legions of soldiers, it’s only a matter of time before your pitiful guards are overwhelmed and you two follow suit.”.

Both Princess turned their gaze to the battlefield as well and they knew that she was right. Shining Armor and his guards were holding the line for the moment, but for every guard they defeated, atleast 4 more took their place. They couldn’t keep this pace for much longer.

“It would appear we are out of options. I only hope that Twilight and the others can find the Elements.”

As if to answer her call, Celestia caught sight of Twilight and the five other ponies returning to the field, though this time with six stone orbs, the sight of which made her heart quickly sink. Luna’s own attention quickly turned to the mares and Nightmare followed as well, spotting them and zeroing in on the stones before them.

The sight caused her to let out an even more manic laugh. “So that was your plan, stall until your precious student and her little gaggle of fools found the Elements of Harmony. How cute. Still, it was a clever enough idea, I’d completely forgotten about those little baubles.”

Below her, the six ponies were doing their best to figure out the elements but to seemingly no avail, making the Princess of the Night laugh even harder.

“Seems like your final gambit has failed you Celestia. Unless you plan to lob those useless stones at my head, you’ve lost this battle and Equestria is mine.” Her gaze then turned to Luna, her smirk growing ever more sinister. “And to think, I have you to thank for all of this Princess Luna. After all without you, I wouldn’t even be here, it must eat you up inside knowing this is all your fault.”

And then he gaze shifted to Shining Armor for a second and she licked her lips at the sight. “And don’t worry about your precious Captain of the Guards. He’ll make a perfect toy for me once I become Queen.”

As she uttered those words, something inside Luna’s mind snapped. Her eyes suddenly began to glow white with intense light, as dark blue and black aura surrounded her form, filling her horn as a massive blast grew near the tip.

“YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HIM, YOU WRETCH!!”

Without a single word more, she unleashed a blast of dark blue magic, so large it looked as those it could rip through a fully grown dragon. Nightmare Moon couldn’t even find the words to respond to the blast.

All she could try was to blast it back, her own magic not even being able to slow it’s advance before she was consumed by the attack. Those on the ground could just make out a faint outline of Nightmare Moon within the blast, before her form distorted and shifted, until finally it was nothing.

The spell quietly ended, as but a few bits of ash and a small fragments of the Night Queen’s armor and horn fell to the ground. The single instance was witnessed by all those on the battlefield, and those who supported Nightmare Moon, quietly surrendered as Luna descended to the ground below, both Celestia and Shining Armor running to her side.

“Sister, are you alright?”

“Luna, can you hear me?”

The Princess of the Night, remained silent for a moment before looking up at the two ponies before her. Her eyes then shifted to the smoking remains of her evil half, now finally put to rest, a thought that felt as though a great weight was lifted from her shoulders after 1000 years and it brought a smile to her face.

“Sister, I do believe it’s time we raise the sun. After all that’s happened, it would appear we have an especially appropriate time to celebrate. Don’t you think?”

The Princess of the Sun only laughed at her sister’s response, while Shining Armor quietly hugged her close, with the Princess giving him a short kiss, meriting looks of shock from all the ponies present, most notable Twilight Sparkle. This lead to the situation and proverbial cat being let out of the bag, to which Twilight was surprisingly happy and excited about her brother marrying the Princess.

To that end the battle was over, the Sun was raised, Nightmare Moon’s army was rounded up and the Celebration had commenced, all the ponies present enjoying themselves as a shadow that had been hanging over Equestria for so many centuries had finally been settled.

Both Celestia and Luna looked over the celebration, enjoying the laughter and play that was at work before them.

“Well, I guess now that this has all been taken care of, there’s now the matter of preparing for your upcoming wedding, don’t you think sister?”

“From one celebration to another, you seem a little too eager for this Celestia. Or are you just waiting to take the first slice of my wedding cake for yourself?”

The Princess of the Sun gasped in mock offense. “Why Luna, how could you think such a thing of me. I simply want to ensure that your special day is as wonderful a time as you deserve….though I wouldn’t be opposed to getting the first piece of cake.” The two princesses quietly laughed at each other, able to finally relax after all that had happened.

And yet, both still had a nagging feeling in the back of their heads, almost like in the midst of all this joy, they’d forgotten something.

-Unknown Location-

“So, Nightmare Moon has fallen and Princess Luna is getting married. How, lovely!” A sinister voice spoke, echoing through a large catacomb.

“Well, it’d be rude for us to miss such a prestigious event don’t you think.” As the voice spoke again, hundreds of blank blue eyes opened up throughout the cavern, a combination of hisses and sickly clacking echoing loudly as the voice chuckled.

A set of footsteps were heard as a slickly green light illuminated the room. “And I’ll even make sure to bring a date. It should prove to be quiet the event.”

As the light grew brighter, it revealed the presence of another within the cave….the Statue of Discord.

To Be Continued?