At first, Twilight, I didn’t believe that I could fulfill your request. It seems that age eventually catches up to everyone, and I could remember few scant details about the happenings that occured that night. I found myself thinking back into time and finding nothing but the same details over and over again.

I used the elements of harmony and sent her into exile on the moon. That was all I was going to send to you until I went to revisit some old areas from long ago.

I traveled to the old castle. The walls were crumbled and seemed to be breaking, and it looked to me like they were always that way, even though I knew they weren’t.

I didn’t remember anything about the place.

I entered the throne room. There hung two banners, held up by some unknown force from long ago. I moved to my throne and sat down in a regal position. I started the quick shouting of commands in the olden vernacular to help engage any memories.

They didn’t.

I stood up and started down the hallway, passing by countless rooms for all different purposes that now looked identical to one another. Inside one room I heard a group laughing. I rushed in and frantically searched for anypony that was inside.

There was no one, but it was a start.

I continued down the hall until I reached a set of large double doors which opened up into a chamber. Inside everything seemed to be sun themed; the large windows were open to encompass everything in natural moonlight, and the bed seemed to be themed with white and gold.

It was my old room, and where everything started.

Although that night took on many names, the first one that was ever used was of my creation: The Eternal Evening.

It started in my chamber with Luna. We both stood in front of a large window that held room for both of us. It wasn’t every night we would switch the planetary bodies in a sensational way, and when no one was watching us it was it was not as complicated as we made it out to be. I started to lower the sun, and she began to raise the moon.

The time in between we both cherished as the best part of the day. The twilight was always beautiful as it was something both of us were able to take pride in. Everything seemed to glow to both of us, and the longer we both looked the more we found to enjoy.

As the ending stages of dusk commenced I glanced at Luna, who wore a solemn look. It didn’t fit her. She was staring directly at the moon, almost as if she was trying to drill a hole into it.

“What troubles you, Luna?” I’ve decided to translate what anyone says into modern vernacular for you, Twilight, as it saves lots of time. Luna seemed to jump as if in a state of shock, but quickly recovered. She flashed a bright smile.

“I was simply enjoying the show that we put on.”

“It seems you think it was awfully boring, then, focusing on your moon alone.” Her smile became strained.

“I was concentrating on what it looked like,” she breathed out. “It is beautiful, right?”

“Why would you need to concentrate on your moon, Luna?” I jovially accused. “You can look at it again tomorrow night, and the next, and so on.”

“Why should I wait until the night to look at it?” She glanced up and frowned before staring back at the floor. The frown turned into a wince and she closed her eyes in pain.

And keeled over.

And fell on the ground.

And looked up to me.

And stared into my eyes with pure hatred.

And teleported away.

I was transfixed to my spot, unable to understand what had happened so fast. We weren’t supposed to show so much weakness or lack of control. At the time I didn’t realize how immortality did not mean invulnerability.

I find it important to note that this was the moment my beliefs in myself started to falter. I was the ruler of my country and had all of the wealth to go along with it. Along with that came enough arrogance and narcissism to make anypony annoyed by how vain I acted. In retrospective, I shouldn’t have been so surprised at how Luna would act that night, as the option of talking things out was off the table from day one. Even though she was technically on the same level as me and should have been referred to as a Princess, no one gave her the correct title, or the same level of respect.

Knocking out of my trance I galloped over to the double doors to go on a search. Before I opened them I glanced back out the window at the moon hanging the sky. It was full and brighter than ever before.

I picked up a fast trot down the hall to hopefully find Luna. A group of guards were laughing in the lounge and I peeked my head in to inquire if they had seen her. A gray-coated guard stood up.

“You just missed her, Your Highness. She grabbed one of us and continued down the hallway,” he explained, “but didn’t tell any of us why.”

She’s at least walking, that’s good. I was speculative at what her plan was, but more afraid than anything. I didn’t hate her, and the anger she directed towards me had never felt so genuine. Still, if she was planning on hurting anyone or disrupting our growing country then I would have to stop her.

Then came the screaming.

I looked out the door of the lounge to see a stampede of ponies going straight towards me. They flowed into each room until it was fully filled. Each guard threw on their helmets and rushed out to help control the ensuing chaos. I flew into the air in the hallway and started to make my way towards the throne room.

As I entered the room I found two things that were one in the same: Luna, and the problem that caused everypony to run out screaming. I landed onto the floor.

She had created three blades out of condensed magic. Although hard to do for a normal pony, an alicorn can make a blade sharper than anything in existence. It’s a great tool for battle, but not so great when it’s being held to your neck.

One of the three blades did exactly that to me as I entered the room. I could have easily blocked it and gotten away, but I wasn’t going to do that as there were two more ponies in the room with me.

The first was an earth pony guard of similar coat color to Luna’s with brown hair. He seemed to be trying to keep his calm in between his shivers as he felt the knife on his neck. Our guard uniforms at the time didn’t protect the neck; most ponies would aim for areas lower or higher than that as they were easier and quicker to atack. That isn’t to say that their uniforms made of a mixture of stone and wood would have held back a blade created by Luna—

No, Luna wouldn’t do this. This is something else. Whatever afflicted her in my chambers has obviously changed her in some way. Although the name Nightmare Moon became popular afterwards (mainly through The Nightmare naming herself before I sent her away) I chose a different name beforehand.

That isn’t to say that their uniforms made of a mixture of stone and wood would have held back a blade created by The Affliction anyways.

The final blade was held to the throat of a scarlet unicorn mare. She was more focused on The Affliction than the blade which had already cut some of her golden hair. I scanned her eyes to see any sort of fear but all I saw was a sense of disappointment. The mare moved her neck to look at me (a dangerous feat with a blade close to it) and smirked. She shifted her eyes back to the The Affliction and gave me a light nod. I took it as my cue to start talking.

“What is this, Luna?” I tried to be as gentle and mellifluous as possible.

“YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS, SISTER!” The Royal Canterlot Voice was used once again. As she yelled I could feel the blade slowly inch closer to my throat. It didn’t help trying to remember what conflict this was about. I was thick-headed back then and that didn’t change for a long time.

“Luna, you’ve taken two ponies hostage, and for what point? Stopping now is better for all parties.”

She was unfazed, but lowered her voice. “I will release the hostages, but I’m going to need a trade.”

Progress was being made. “What do you want, sister? We can get anything adequate for your needs, as you know.”

“There’s a mountain north of here.”

“Yes. What do want with it?”

“Turn it into a monument. Of me. Once it is built I will release these two.” All of us in the room except The Affliction were confused. Why would she risk murder just for a monument of herself?

“Luna, it will take days to build something out of that mountain. Release them when it is half finished, and we will finish the second half afterwards.”

She smiled. It was sinister. I glanced over to the scarlet mare, and she frowned. She lightly shook her head, No.

The Affliction responded, “Very well. Have it done fast.”

I stepped back from the blade and it didn’t follow me. In the hallway the guards looked at me expectantly. Ponies popped out of doorways with eager and anxious looks. Everyone was looking at me for ruling, for support. I had never made a major decision without consulting with Luna first. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was about to give my first order as Monarch of Equestria.

“EVACUATE THE CASTLE!”

Signed,
-Princess Celestia

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed! This will update eventually.