Chapters Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria, a land filled with ponies, griffins, dragons, yaks and many more different creatures, was currently looking over documents given to her by her assistant, Raven. Then, a maid came into the room.
"Um.. Your majesty?" she asked nervously with a shy, soft voice. Celestia stopped working and she gently ushered Raven away.
"Yes Cotton?"
"Its' Moonshine again, your majesty. She's a bit fussy." Cotton replied to her majesty. Celestia smiled and she flew towards Cotton and landed in front of her.
"I'll take care of it, Cotton, thank you."
Cotton nodded and Celestia exited her throne room and walked down the hall to her royal bedroom. She opened it to reveal her large bed with for posts covered with a decorative sheet and next to the bed was small crib with a small figure inside of it, whimpering.
"Mama..! Mama…!"
Celestia smiled and she walked over to the crib and looked over it and she saw a small filly inside of it. The filly was no more than a few months old and she was white like she was and it had a pink and blue mane and tail. The filly spotted Celestia hovering over the crib and reached out to her.
"Mama.. Mama…" she cooed, reaching up to Celestia.
Celestia gently levitated the filly into her arms, "Shh… its alright Moonshine… Mama's here…" Celestia cooed at her. The filly calmed down and cooed at Celestia.
"Mama…"
Celestia smiled at Moonshine and nuzzled her, earning a giggle from the baby before the baby let out a sleepy yawn and revealed a pair of tiny wings that fluttered a little. The filly then fell asleep in Celestia's arms and she gently placed the filly back into the crib. "There…" she said quietly.
She quietly walked out of the door and closed the door before returning to her throne room. She passed by one of the stained glass window which had a picture of her and a unicorn who wore a blue cloak and hat with yellow bells on it. "Oh my love… where are you…?" she quietly asked herself before she looked at another stained glass window that held about picture of her blasting a tall mane with a dark blue mane and tail that was black with blue armor on her body. "Oh Luna….how I miss you so…" she whispered.
"Your majesty?"
Celestia turned and saw Raven looking at her with a concerned look.
"Are you alright?"
Celestia put on a brave face and nodded, "Yes I am alright, Raven."
"You miss them both terribly, right?"
"Yes… I do… but I have Moonshine now and I must provide for her."
"You're doing an excellent job caring for her already, your majesty."
"I know…. But still…."
Raven could see Celestia was distressed. Ever since she 'lost' her lover and younger sister, she took responsibility for both sun and moon and Moonshine.
"You'll get them both back… one day, your majesty." Raven reassured.
Celestia smiled at her assistant and nodded at her. "Thank you, Raven…" Raven smiled back and nodded,
"Anytime, your majesty. Now let's get you back to your duties."
Celestia nodded and she and Raven returned to the throne.
A few months have passed and Moonshine had grown into a energetic young filly. Celestia would make time in her busy schedule to spend some quality time with Moonshine, which she adored very much. Moonshine and Celestia would play pretend with each other and Celestia would show Moonshine some basic spells too which she awed at with great interest.
"So when can I do magic like you mommy?" Moonshine asked in a soft voice.
"You can perform magic like me when you're a bit older." Celestia replied with a smiled.
Moonshine smiled, "I wanna be as good as you one day mommy." she hugged Celestia's right front leg and Celestia hugged her back.
"So can I levitate something, mommy?" Moonshine asked.
"Hmmm…" Celestia thought. "Well… I guess learning early can help you…" Moonshine cheered happily and Celestia placed a small apple in front of her. "Now remember.. Concentrate and remain calm…" she advised.
Moonshine nodded and she closed her eyes and stayed calm. Her tiny horn lit up in a yellow aura which engulfed the apple as it slowly levitated into the air. Moonshine opened her eyes and she smiled before she gently placed the apple down on the ground.
"Great honey…" Celestia praised.
Moonshine giggled happily, "Yeah.. ! I did it! I did it!"
Suddenly, there was a large crash in the castle, "What was that?" Moonshine asked. Celestia looked out the window and saw spotted a large dragon that was purple with green spikes inside of the room where unicorns would perform an entrance exam for the School of Gifted Unicorns.
"Hmmm…" Celestia teleported herself and Moonshine into the room where she saw a purple unicorn filly with a dark blue mane and tail with a pink and purple stripe in it, struggling to control her magic which was sparking all over the place. Her eyes were completely white and Celestia flew over and placed her hoof on the small filly and her eyes turned back to normal and the magic stopped.
Moonshine looked and she saw a greyish unicorn with a grey mane with purple steaks in it and a blue unicorn stallion with a dark blue mane and tail.
Moonshine also saw a little purple baby dragon with tiny green scales.
"Twilight Sparkle." Celestia said to the young filly.
"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to-" Twilight stammered but Celestia continued.
"You have a very special gift, I don't think I've ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilites other than my own daughter."
"Huh?" Twilight questioned.
"But you need to tame these abilities through focus study."
"Huh?"
"Twilight Sparkle, I'd like to make you my own personal protégé here at the school along with my daughter."
"HUH?!" Twilight exclaimed, jaw dropped.
"Well?" Celestia asked with a smile. Twilight turned to her parents who nodded at her, wanting to her accept the amazing offer. She leaped into the air.
"YES!"
"One more thing Twilight." Celestia added.
"More..?" Twilight asked and she fell on the ground but Moonshine gasped and instinctively used her magic and caught her.
"Woah…!" Twilight gasped. Moonshine came running over.
"Oh, sorry." she apologized with a sheepish smile and she stopped her magic and Twilight landed on her hooves. Celestia chuckled and she pointed to Twilight's flank which now had a large pink star surrounded by six little stars.
"My cutie mark! Yesyesyesyesyesyes!" she cheered, hopping around Celestia happily.
Her parents and Celestia chuckled at her behavior. Twilight soon stopped bouncing and Moonshine came up to her.
"Hi, I'm Moonshine."
"Hi, I'm Twilight Sparkle. Nice to meet you. Are you the Princesses' daughter?"
"Yes." Twilight gasped, "Ohmygosh, Ohmygosh, Ohmygosh, you're so lucky. You must know tons of magic."
Moonshine rubbed the back of her head with a sheepish smiled, "Actually, I only know basic levitation. Mommy says I'll learn more when I'm older."
"Well maybe our daughter could help teach you some more things?" The blue stallion offered to the Moonshine.
"Really?" Moonshine asked Twilight.
"Of course." Twilight grinned.
"Yeah..!" Moonshine cheered.
A week after the entrance exam, Twilight has helped Moonshine with studying magic. Twilight gave her a book filled with basic spell some unicorns learn before moving onto the more advanced spells. Moonshine understood about half of what she was reading and Twilight helped her understand the rest. Celestia gave assistance to the pair when she had time.
At first, Moonshine had some difficulty with teleporting so Twilight and Celestia had to teleport small inanimate objects like an apple, grape, banana and other fruit. “Remember, stay calm and think about where you want the Apple to go.” Twilight advised. Celestia was watching from the side.
Moonshine nodded and she lit up her horn and the apple. A small ball of white light shined from the tip of her horn and in an instant the apple disappeared and then reappeared near Celestia’s hooves. “Perfect!” Twilight exclaimed with joy.
“Well done, honey.” Celestia praised. Moonshine squealed with joy, “Yeah..!” Moonshine then tried to teleport the banana. Her horn lit up once more and the banana disappeared and then reappeared.... in Twilights book on teleportation. “What the-?!”
Celestia and Moonshine laughed.
The next day, it was time for Twilight and Moonshines’ first day at the School of Gofted Unicorns. Moonshine had met up with Twilight and she was walking with her family; her brother, a white uniform with a blue mane and tail and blue hooves, Shining Armor.
Her mother, Twilight Velet and her father, Night Light. Twilight had her Smarty Pants doll with her and she was excited for her first day. “Come on, were going to be late.” she called her to her family and Moonshine as she ran ahead.
“Twily, wait up!” Shining Armor called to her.
Moonshine and the Sparkle Family made it to the entrance to the School. There they saw Princess Celestia greeting the parents and other students. “Twilight Sparkle! Moonshine! How wonderful to see you both.”
Moonshine greeted her mother with a big confident child, “Hi Mom.” while Twilight was stammering, “Hello Princess-I mean your majesty-I mean-“ then Celestia leaned in closer to the two of them.
“I’m glad you’re both here. I have a special task for you both that I need to talk about.”
While the parents and student got situated outside, Celestia lead Twilight and Moonshine through one of the schools hallways. “A special task?” Twilight asked.
“What do you mean, Mom?” Moonshine added.
"Its something so important, so tricky, that I can only entrust them to my most promising students." Celestia stated as they stopped at a door and she opened it with her hoof, revealing a small room with some bookshelves on the side and a small crib.
"Twilight Speckle meet....your baby dragon.!" Twilight's eye bulged as she exclaimed, "B-B-BABY DRAGON?!"
"Yes, the dragon you hatched as part of your entrance exam." Celestia chuckled, knowing she would probably react that way. Celestia lead Twilight and Moonshine over to the crib where the little dragon was babbling and cooing at the sight of them.
"I've taken care of him ever eince... but now that you're here, I thought you should help."
"TAKE CARE OF HIM?!" Twilight gasped. "Y-Y-You mean-"
"Well even thought he's a dragon he's still a baby." Celestia stated. "He needs care, love and attention. He needs somepony to feed im, put him to bed, make sure he's doing all right..." Celestia sighed and then lowered her head to Twilight's and placed an arm over her, "...and I'm afraid I simply don't have the time. I need your help Twilight."
"But... I don't know anything about taking care of babies." Twilight stated.
"I can help you learn. You wont have to watch him all the time-just when I'm too busy." Celestia reassured with a calm smiled. "Beside you'll have my daughter here to support you, Twilight. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I don't think you could handle it. I have faith in you."
Twilight looked at the baby dragon with a concerned look. Moonshine came up to her side and placed an arm around her.
"Don't worry, I'll help you take care of him, Twilight... by the way..." Moonshine turned to her mother, "Mom, what's my task? You did say 'them' in the hallway."
Celestia smiled, "Your task, Moonshine is to take care of..." suddenly Moonshine heard two barks from behind her and Celestia stepped to the side and two brown balls of fluff tackled Moonshine's neck.
"Hey! Hahaha!" Moonshine laughed. Moonshine took the balls of fluff in her magic and saw that it was two puppies... two brown puppies with dark brown paws, bent ears that had dark brown tips and they had a white collars with rocks in it and a large white curly tails.
"Woah..." Twilight gasped. "I've never seen puppies like these before. What are they, Princess Celestia?"
"These puppies are known as Rockruff. They are known as Pokemon or Pocket Monsters. Rockruff are very pony friendly pokemon and they like to run around alot to train." Celestia explained.
"Ruff.” They barked.
“Where’d you get them mommy?” Moonshine asked, having never seen them before with her mother.
“They both hatched from eggs a few weeks ago and I have been caring for them.”
"Okay... and..." Moonshine urged, wanting to know more. Celestia continued, "And I want you to take care of them, Moonshine."
Moonshine looked at the two puppy pokemon who barked at her, wagging their tails before she looked at her mother surprised, "R-Really? A-Are you sure, I've never had a pet before, mom."
"I know you will do just fine, Moonshine. In fact..." Celestia went over to one of the bookshelves and pulled out a book with her magic, "Here..." Moonshine took the book in her hooves as the Rockruff pokemon sat on either side of her, "Rockruff..!"
The book was titled 'Puppy Care'.
"This book should give you an idea about how to care for them and you might find they have a few surprises in store for you.” Celestia smiled before she winked at them. "I have to get back to greeting the students. I'll leave you five to get acquainted." Celestia left the room while Moonshine and Twilight looked at their new pokemon and baby drgaon.
The Rockruff pokemon leaped onto Moonshines' chest and nuzzled her. "Hahaha, hey that hurts. Hahaha." Moonshine chuckled. The two Puppy pokemon backed off and wagged their tails, "Rockruff..."
"Boy, you two sure are full of energy." Moonshine grinned. The Rockruffs smiled at her. Meanwhile Twilight looked at the baby dragons as it cooed at her.
"I suppose.... this can't be too hard." Twilight said while the baby dragon babble. "He's only a baby dra-" Suddenly, the baby dragon yawned and breathed fire onto Twilights' face, covering it in soot and her head fell on the table.
"Umm... Twilight...?" Moonshine asked, poking Twilight with worry.
Later that day, Twilight was in the library and she was at the checkout area. The librarian was shocked to see how many books she wanted to check out. They were all on baby care but.... "You don't have books on raising dragons ?"
"Sorry, nopony has ever written one about it." the librarian replied and Twilight groaned. She checked out the books anyway and she returned to her room. The baby dragon was in the crib babbling as she read one book on her bed, "Okay, your crib has been made, I've got your toys, your books, your blankets, you've been fed, and you've had you nap-"
Suddenly, Moonshine burst into the room, "Twilight, its' almost time for class, come on!" she exclaimed and Twilight looked at her hourglass.
"WAH!" Twilight fanatically gathered her books in her saddlebag and the baby dragons and the two friends rushed over to their first class if the day which was Professor Inkwells' class.
The class was just about to begin when the two came in and took their seats. "Phew.." Twilight sighed wiping sweat from her head, "Thanks Moonshine."
Moonshine nodded and Professor Inkwell was about to start class when... two brown blurs burst into the classroom.
"What in the-?" Inkwell exclaimed. Moonshine gasped, seeing her two Rockruffs running around the classroom!
”Rockruff?!” Moonshine exclaimed in shock.
When they spotted her, they came bonding over to her and they came to her side. "Rockruff...!" they cried happily wagging their tails.
"Princess Moonshine, what is the meaning of this?!" Inkwell exclaimed, not pleased by the two puppies at all.
"Sorry, Professor." Moonshine apologized, "They must have broke out of my room."
"Well keep them under control." Inkwell stated. "The class is no place for foolery." Moonshine nodded at the Professor and looked at her two Rockruff, who gave her confused looks. Then Twilights' baby dragon started to cry and wail. The two best friends sighed.
During the first week of school, Twilight and Moonshine has their difficulties with the baby dragon and Rockruffs. For Twilight, the baby dragon kept crying all night long that it prevented her from sleeping at all, making her late for class and making her fall asleep during Professor Inkwell's class, much to her dismay. Whenever, Twilight tried to study in the library, the baby dragon would cry and wail and the librarian was forced to make Twilight and the baby dragon leave.
For Moonshine, the Rockruffs weren't as demanding as the baby dragon but they still required attention. In the library, after Twilight was forced to leave, the librarian heard two small barks and looked down and saw the Rockruffs smiling at her, wagging their tails, "Rockruff..!"
The librarian blinked before Moonshine came along and ushered them away, "Sorry ma'am, hehe.." she said sheepishly.
In her room, using the book her mother gave her, Moonshine learned that the two were fast learners, "Okay... sit." she ordered and the Rockruffs sat down. "Now... roll over.." the Rockruffs rolled over happily. "Now... jump up."
The Rockruffs barked and leaped into the air..... and suddenly launched rocks at Moonshine, "WAH!" she dodged the rocks which made a small explosion in her room.
"Cough cough... that was new...and definitely not in the book." Suddenly, another book popped in front of her, "What's this?" Moonshine took the book in her magic and read the title, "Pokemon Handbook: Everything you need to know about Pokemon." the book had a small note from he mother too.
I figured you'd might want this book as well, honey. Good luck
"Hmmm..." Moonshine opened the book and tuned to the page that had Rockuffs on it. "Rockruff, the Puppy Pokemon. A Rock Type. Rockruff have lived with ponies since ancient times. They trained themselves by running around."
"Oh... so that's why you two run around so much." Moonshine realized. "Now... what about the rocks...?" She skimmed through the moves that Rockruff could learn and she found, "Rock Throw. This move launched rocks at its opponents."
"Hm... interesting..." Moonshine thought. The Rockruffs barked happily, wagging their tails. "Guess you two are full of surprises." Moonshine grinned. The Rockruff then tackled her and rubbed their rock collars against her, "Hey that hurts, stop! Hahahah!" she laughed.
After that, Moonshine went to check in on Twilight, she stopped at her door which was cracked open a bit and she heard her talking, "Princess Celestia gave me this assignment because she has faith in me but... I don't have faith in me. I'm not sure I can handle everything. I want to show the Princess what I can do... but I don't know if I can do it!" Moonshine winced, hearing how stressed Twilight was because of the assignment. "Anyway, thanks for listening to me." Twilight added before she hugged her Smarty Pants doll, "You're a good friend, Smarty Pants." she then leaped off of the bed and opened the door and saw Moonshine, "OH! Moonshine... how long have you been... standing there...?" Twilight stammered.
"Long enough... I know this isn't as easy as we both thought but mom trust us to take care of the dragon and Rockruff. She trust you , Twilight and so do I." Moonshine reassured.
Twilight sighed, hoping her friend was right.
As the semester went on, Twilight was extremely stressed and it began to show vividly. She was starting to fall behind in all her classes, especially Professor Inkwells. In Professor Inkwells' class, Twilight had to try and teleport a flower. Her mane was messy and she had bags under her eyes, showing how tied she was. She grunted as she tried to perform the spell, but she just couldn't. Inkwell came up to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
“That's enough Miss Sparkle. You can return to your seat now."
Twilight nodded and she returned to her seat, feeling ashamed. When the class was over, the students began to leave but, "Miss Sparkle, can I speak with you for a minute?" Inkwell called. Twilight stopped and she tuned to her teacher. Moonshine noticed this and came to her friends side,
"Y-Y-Yes Professor Inkwell?"
"Miss Sparkle. Twilight. The Princess recommended you highly and you have obvious magical talent, but... well you're not living up to your potential." Twilight lowered her head in shame. "Now I'm willing to let some things slide, but I can only help you as a teacher. And it seems like what you need... is a friend.."
Moonshine placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, "Don't worry, Professor. She has one..."
Twilight dismissed this and exited the class with her head down, "Thank you Professor Inkwell. I'll be fine. I just need to rest that's all." Moonshine and Inkwell watched as she left.
“Keeping looking after her Princess.”
“I will.” Moonshine promised and she exited the classroom. She caught up with Twilight. “Hey Twilight...” Moonshine said.
“Hi...” Twilight replied in a dejected voice.
“Do you want any help to take care of the baby dragon?” Moonshine offered.
“No no no, I couldn’t ask you to do that, Moonshine.” Twilight immediately responded.
“But Twilight...”
“I can... handle it..” Twilight quickly trotted way, leaving Moonshine worried.
After another week, Twilight, her family and Moonshine attending the annual Royal High Tea, a small party in the castle where students and parents can chat with each other and meet their students teachers. Twilight was wearing a simple pink dress and her mane and tail were neatly combed with flowers in them.
Moonshine wore and purple and pink dress with white fur in the ends. The ponies gasped in awe at her, being that she was Princess Celestia’s daughter. Her mane and tail were neatly braided as well. Twilight and Moonshine both had the baby dragon and Rockruff with them. Night Light and Twlight Velvet were exited.
"Oh I can't wait to meet your teachers, Twylie." Twilight Velet stated.
Twilight laughed nervously, "Ha ha... yes..! My teachers. I'm sure they'll... love to meet you."
"And the Princess. I can't wait to talk to her." Night Light added with a smile. Twilight gave a big smile while sweating nervously.
"Well, um.. I think she's going to be very busy," Twilight replied nervously, unaware that the baby dragon was unzipping the sack she was carrying in him.
"Um... Twilight." Moonshine called but Twilight didn't listen and continued, "So you might not have time to talk to her.." then the baby dragon jumped out of the sack, "Bah!" but Twilight caught him in her magic. "Woop!"
"No, no, bad dragon." Twilight scolded. "I need to keep an eye on you today, baby dragon." The baby dragon gave her a bored look as Twilight placed him back into the sack and zipped it up again.
Moonshine and her Rockruffs looked at each other, "This won't end well."
Then Princess Celestia came up to the family, "Welcome Miss Twilight Velvet and Mister Night Light. How lovely to see you both! And its always a pleasure to see you Twilight and Moonshine, honey."
"I'm glad we could be here, Princess." Twilight Velvet replied with a smile.
"If you two will head to the parents room, I'll join your shortly. Feel free to mingle with the other parents and teachers." Princess Celestia advised. Twilight's parents nodded and headed into the parents' room while Princess Celestia spoke with Twilight and Moonshine,
"Twilight, Moonshine why don't you two head to the students room? Spend time with some of your friends."
Moonshine nodded while Twilight was very nervous, "Uh... yes.. My friends! Of which I have many! Many Many friends!" she cried out, earning a facehoof from Moonshine. "I'll take her there, mom." Moonshine then pushed the freaked Twilight into the students room, but before they could go in.
"On second thought, would you two like to go into the parents' room? I’m sure everypony would love to meet you baby dragon and Rockruffs."
"Okay mom." Moonshine agreed and Twilight just gave a frantic nod. Soon the three entered the parents room and found all the students parents talking with their teachers. Twilight Velvet and Night Light were at a sepreate table.
"Twilight, Moonshine.." Twilight Velvet called and the two came over with Princess Celestia. The three of them sat down. "So Twilight, Why don't you tell us about you classes. Your letters have been a little... short."
"Um... they're... good..." Twilight stammered nervously.
"Can you be more... specific?" Night Light asked as Twilight Velvet sipped some tea. "Well... History of Magic with Professor Abra is very.. interesting.." as Twilight talked she didn't notice the baby dragon unzipping the sack again! "I really like Magic Theory and Equestrian Politics, and we're just starting a new unit in Griffion Literature." Moonshine's two Rockruffs saw the baby dragon crawling away and they gasped and quickly rushed after him. "We started reading the Element of Magic by Galaxy- Oh! and we're studying basic magic transmutation and transformation in Professor Inkwell's class... except I'm still having trouble with her basic spells."
The baby dragon went to a table cloth and started pulling on it, much to the Rockruffs horror!
"Actaully I have to retake her test next week. I've just been so stressed taking care of the dragon, I haven't had time to study!" Twilight continued on, earning worried looks from her parents and the Princess. Moonshine, on the other hand, just sighed and facehooved. She saw this coming from a far.
"And I'm so worried about not studying that I can't take care of the dragon. And then I couldn't levitate the flowerpot even thought I know how to do levitation and I just know I'm going to fail the transformation exam next week and I haven't even started studying for my history of magic test-" Suddenly, there was a cloud crash and everypony turned and saw a table cloth on the floor, two Rockruffs to the side and baby dragon covered in food. "WEH!"
"AAAGGGGH!" Twilight suddenly screamed before she grabbed the baby dragon in her magic and ran away. "Twilight, wait!" Moonshine called but Twilight already too far away.
"Oh dear... I had no idea she was under so much stress." Twilight Velvet said with worry.
"I tried to helped her with the baby dragon as well as my Rockruffs but she kept refusing, saying she could do it herself." Moonshine explained.
Night Light sighed, "Independent behavior, just like her brother."
Celestia leaned down to Moonshine, "You better go and check on her."
"Of course, mom." Moonshine said. "Come on, Rockruffs."
"Rockruff.!" Her rockruffs followed her as they made their way to Twilight's room where they entered and found her yelling at the baby dragon which was cuddled against a blanket.
L”I can't believe you did that! You- You caused all that mess! And annoyed the Princess! And you make me look like-" Twilight started to shed some tears, "Like a bad caretaker! A bad student! And a bad daughter! I've had it with you- you nunsicne -snf-You're stupid and you can't behvae and you can't help me!" Moonshine and her Rockruffs looked at each other worry.
"Why can’t-Why can't you be like Smarty Pants!" Twilight then burst into tears and put her head down on the bed and started sobbing. Moonshine's Rockruffs whimpered and came over to her and nuzzled the sobbing purple unicorn as Moonshine came to her side and comforted her.
Then...
"Ike... Smuh-puh.!"
Twilight looked up at the baby dragon, "D-Did- Did you just say something..?" she asked, having never heard a word from the baby ever since she started taking care of him. "Smuh Puh! 'ike. Smuh pah!" the baby said again.
"You... you're talking! You're trying to saying 'Like Smarty Pants', aren't you?" Twilight asked.
"'ike Smuh-Puh.." the dragon said again and then Twilight realized, "You... You're not like Smarty Pants...You're not a doll. You're not a nunsicne. I thought Princess Celestia was trying to give me a responcibility but... she was trying to give me a friend, wasn't she?"
"I suppose you can't keep calling him 'dragon' forever. He needs a proper name." Moonshine suggested.
The baby dragon babbled again and said, "Suh Pah ike. Suh Puh."
"Hehee. No I can't call you Smarty Pants. That's Smarty Pants' name."
Then the baby dragon said. "ike
"Suh Pah ike..." Twilight repeated. "That kinda sounds like..." then Twilight Velvet and Night Light came into the room, "Mom, Dad."
"Are you alright, dear. You ran out of the tea party, quite upset." Twilight Velvet said with a worried look.
"Look I'm sorry about running out so suddenly, but-but something really important happened." Twilight showed her parents the baby dragon. "I want you to meet somepony. Meet Spike...."
Twilight Velvet cooed at the baby dragon. "He's adorable... when he's not covered in food." Twilight and Moonshine laughed.
Moonshine's Rockruffs barked happily, wagging their tails.
"And who are these two puppies?"
"They are my Rockruffs." Moonshine smiled with pride.
"Do you wanna go back, Twilight?" Twilight Velvet asked.
Twilight nodded, "I want everypony to meet Spike." and so the Sparkle Family and Moonshine and her Rockruffs headed back to the party with a new member in tow.
Many Years Later....
Moonshine, Twilight, Spike and the Rockruffs has grown significantly in those years.
Moonshine and Twilight we’re now the same age; young mates and their names and tail had grown longer as well as their magic. Moonshine’s wings had grown too and her mother had help her learn to fly with them as well. At first, she was a bit rusty but she soon got the hang of flying as well. Her mother had increased her study load a little bit and her Rockruffs had grown stronger during the years as well.
Now Moonshine knows they can perform the moves, Rock Throw, Bite and Tackle, but one of them knew Fire Fang whole the other knew Thunder Fang, two of the many eggs moves Rockruff can learn.
As Twilight had got older, Princess Celestia had increased her study load. It went to the point that she had even allowed Moonshine and Twilight their own space in one of the high towers. The place was off limits to all but a select few so they could focus on their studies in peace. But Moonshine still went out and made some friends like Twinkleshine, Lyra Heartstrings, Moon Dancer and Lemon Hearts while Twilight was more focused on her studies than making friends.
Now Moonshine and her Rockruffs were heading back to the tower after some more training when they found Spike carrying some suitcases.
“Hi Spike. Whats with the suitcases?” Spike has grown in the years. He was at the height of Twilight’s legs now and his green spikes had grown a bit too. He could walk without a problem too.
“Oh Twilight’s panicking out some evil pony mare that is said to come back on the Summer Sun Celebration and bring an enteral night to all of Equestria.” Spike replied.
“Woah..” Moonshine said.
“But when she tried to warn your mother, she decided theories more to her life than studying so she’s sending all of us to look over the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville and she has an additional task for her to complete; make some friends.” Spike added. Moonshine nodded, “I already packed your things in the chariot and these are the last of Twilights things. Come on.”
Moonshine nodded and followed the baby dragon to the chariot that was going to be pulled by two of Celestia’s solar Pegasus guards. Twilight was in the chariot and Spike loaded the last of the bags into it. “Alright that’s everything.” He said as he, Moonshine and the Rockruffs climbed in. The guards took off into the sky. Twilight was still slumped in her seat.
“Twilight, it’s not that bad.” Moonshine reassured.
“Moonshine’s right.” Spike agreed. “And look on the bright side, Twilight. The Princess arranged for you both to stay in a library. Doesn't that make you happy?.”
Twilight then perked up, “Yes, yes it does. You know why? Because I'm right! I'll check on the preparations as fast as I can, then get to the library to find some proof of Nightmare Moon's return.”
“Whose Nightmare Moon?” Moonshine asked.
“According to the book I read. She’s was Princess Celestia you get sister, but overtime she grew jealous of her and that jealousy turned her into a wicked mare of darkness, vowing to put Equestria into an Eternal Night. Luckily, Celestia used some artifacts called the Elements of Harmony to banish her to the moon. But it is said that on the longest day of thousandth moon, the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about ever lasting night.”
“Woah...” Moonshine said. “So... technically... Princess Luna would be my Auntie, then?” Twilight facehooved at her question.
“Yes Moonshine.” she grumbled.
“So when will you make friends like the Princess said?” Spike asked.
“She said to check on preparations. I am her student, and I'll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends.” The chariot landed in Ponyville and Moonshine unloaded the bags from the chariot. Twilight thanked the guards.
“Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about.” Spike suggested and they all saw a pink earth pony with a pink fluffy mane and tail. Her cutie mark were three balloons; two blue and one yellow.
“Come on, Twilight, just try!” He urged as the pony stopped in front of Twilight and Moonshine.
“Um... hello?” the pink pony let out a prolonged gasp before she dashed away. “Well, that was interesting all right.” Twilight grumbled.
Spike sighed. After that, the group came to a part of Ponyville that had a large farm with an apple orchard all around. “Summer Sun Celebration official overseer's checklist. Number one, banquet preparations: Sweet Apple Acres.” Spike announced.
“Woah... that’s a large orchard..” Moonshine commented.
“Yeehaw!” The group turned and they saw an orange Earth pony with yellow mane and tail that were braided on the ends. Her cutie mark was three red apples. The earth pony ran over to an apple tree and bucked it, making the apples fall into a basket below.
Twilight sighed as she and Moonshine went over to her with Spike and the Rockruffs.
“Let's get this over with... Good afternoon. My name is Twilight Sparkle—“ Twilight was cut off when the pony grabbed her hand and started shaking it rapidly.
“Well, howdy-doo, Miss Twilight, a pleasure makin' your acquaintance. I'm Applejack. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do like makin' new friends!”
“Friends? Actually, I—“ then Applejack noticed Moonshine, “And whose this?”
“Oh, I’m Moonshine, nice to meet you.” Moonshine greeted. Applejack noticed her wings and gasped, “Well I’ll be darned. You’re an alicorn!”
“Yeah.. hehe..” Moonshine said with a small blush.
“You wouldn’t happen to be Princess Celestia’s daughter, would you?” Applejack asked again.
“Haha. You bet she is.” Spike praised. Moonshine rubbed her leg, sheepishly.
“Well it’s an honor to meet you, Princess.”
“Oh you don’t have to call me, Princess. Just Moonshine is fine.” Moonshine replied.
Moonshine, even as a filly, she didn’t really like it when other ponies called her ‘Princess’. Yes, she was Princess Celestia’s daughter, but she didn’t want to feel more important than other ponies.
“So, what can I do you for?” Applejack asked.
“Well, I am in fact here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. And you're in charge of the food?“
“We sure as sugar are! Would you care to sample some?”
“As long as it doesn't take too long...” Then Applejack ran over and she rang a bell, yelling. “Soup's on, everypony !“
Moonshine quickly grabbed the group in her magic and flew into the air, avoiding the large amount of ponies running over.
Moonshine lowered the group down underneath a small gazebo.
“Now, why don't I introduce y'all to the Apple family?“ Applejack suggested.
“Thanks, but I really need to hurry—“ Twilight tried to decline but Applejack continued. “This here's Apple Fritter. Apple Bumpkin. Red Gala. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp...“ she took a deep breath before she got to her immediate family, “Big McIntosh, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith. Up'n'attem, Granny Smith, we got guests.“
Granny Smith woke up in her rocking chair and came over. “Wha..? Soup's on? I'm up, here I come, ahm comin'...“
“Why, I'd say you're already part of the family!“
“Okay, well, I can see the food situation is handled, so we'll be on our way.” Twilight said.
”Aren't ya’ll gonna stay for brunch?” Applebloom asked, giving them the ‘puppy dog’ eyes.
“Well... I guess we could stay for a bit.” Moonshine said, earning a nudge from Twilight and a cheer from the Apple Family.
After that, they were walking through Ponyville, “Food's all taken care of, next is weather.” Spike said, looking at the checklist.
“Hmm, there's supposed to be a Pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds.” Twilight looked at the clouds that were still in the sky.
Well, she's not doing a very good job, is she?” Twilight asked.
Suddenly, “Lookout!” Moonshine grabbed her and flew into the air, avoiding a blue, rainbow maned Pegasus pony. The pony skidded to a halt and trotted back.
“Hehe, sorry about that.” She apologized.
“Let me guess, you’re Raimbow Dash?” Twilight asked.
“The one and only. Why, you heard of me?” Rainbow asked.
“I heard you were supposed to be keeping the sky clear.” Twilight sighed. “I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Moonshine and the Princess sent us to check on the weather.”
“Woah woah woah, as in Princess Moonshine! Princess Celestia’s daughter!” Rainbow exclaimed with excited eyes. Moonshine groaned again in embarrassment.
“It must be so cool being the Princess’ daughter. How many air tricks do you know?”
“Well... only a few but-“
“Can I see them?” Rainbow pleases but Twilight interrupted the two. “Aren’t you suppose to be clearing the sky?”
“Yeah, yeah, that'll be a snap. I'll do it in a jiffy. Just as soon as I'm done practicing.
“Practicing for what?” Moonshine asked.
“The Wonderbolts! They're gonna perform at the Celebration tomorrow, and I'm gonna show 'em my stuff!” Rainbow said.
“The Wonderbolts?”
“Yep!”
“The most talented flyers in all of Equestria?”
“That's them!”
“Pfft! Please. They'd never accept a Pegasus who can't even keep the sky clear for one measly day.”
“Hey, I could clear this sky in ten seconds flat.” Rainbow defended.
“Prove it.” Rainbow narrowed her eyes and she zipped through the sky as fast as lightning kicking the clouds and clearing the sky in a flash. The wind from her flying kinda messed up Moonshine's mane. “Loop-de-loop around, and wham! What'd I say? Ten. Seconds. Flat. I'd never leave Ponyville hanging.”
Twilight was jaw dropped at the sight while Moonshine was impressed. Rainbow laughed, “You should see the look on your face. Ha! You're a laugh, Twilight Sparkle. I can't wait to hang out some more. See ya Moonshine.”
“Wow, she's amazing!” Spoke stated, earning a growl from Twilight, "Rrgh." and she stomped away.
"Wait! It's kinda pretty once you get used to it!"
Next, the group went to Town Hall to look over the decorations for the Celebration. "Decorations. Beautiful..." Spike gasped in awe.
"Yes, the décor is coming along nicely. This ought'a be quick. I'll be at the library in no time. Beautiful indeed." Twilight stated.
"Not the décor, her!" Spike said looking at a white unicorn with a purple curly mane and tail. Her cutie mark were three blue diamonds. She was looking over some fabric.
"No, no, no, oh! Goodness no."
"How are my spines? Are they straight?" Spike stated, earning a playful looked from Moonshine. Twilight and Moonshine went over to her, "Good afternoon—"
" Just a moment, please! I'm 'in the zone', as it were. Oh, yes! Sparkle always does the trick, does it not? Why, Rarity, you are a talent. Now, um, how can I help yo—" she turned and yelped seeing how messed up Moonshines' man was, "Oh my stars, darling! Whatever happened to your coiffure?!"
Moonshine looked up and she noticed her messed up, frizzy mane.
"Oh my mane. Must have gotten messed up when Rainbow was clearing the clouds."
"Hmph, that mare has zero knowledge of fabulous." she grumbled. "Anyway, my name is Rarity darling."
"'I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Moonshine. We're just here to check on the decorations, and then we'll be out of your hair!"
"Out of my hair? What about your hair?!" Rarity said, pushing Moonshine forward.
"Wait! Where are we going?!" Moonshine exclaimed.
"We're going to my shop of course, darling." Rarity said, guiding Moonshine, Twilight, Spike and her Rockruffs to her shop, Carousel Boutique. In the shop, Rarity had fixed Moonshine's mane was now trying on different outfits that she made for her.
"No, no, uh-uh. Too green." she went to another yellow dress. "Too yellow." she went to the next one. "Too poofy." and the next one, "Not poofy enough." and the next one. "Too frilly." ... and the next one.."Too... shiny." finally, she found a dress that was crystal blue with white gems on it, "Now go on, my dear. You were telling me where you're from."
"Um... well.. I'm from Canterlot and I'm Princess Celestias' daughter and-" Rarity gasped in awe, " Canterlot ?! Oh, I am so envious! The glamour, the sophistication! I have always dreamed of living there! And you're the Princesses' daughter! Oh my stars! I can't wait to hear all about it! We are gonna be the best of friends, you and I..." Rarity then looked at her dress' gems. "Emeralds ?! What was I thinking? Let me get you some rubies!" she dashed off and Twilight grabbed Moonshine in her magic.
"Quick! Before she decides to dye your coat a new color!" she exclaimed before the group dashed off.
Spike sighed with a heavenly experssion on her face, "Wasn't she wonderful?"
Moonshine giggled at his behavior while Twilight snapped him back, "Focus, Casanova. What's next on the list?" Twilight asked.
"Oh, uh, music! It's the last one!" Spike stated. Then the group heard some distant birdsongs.
Not far away, they saw a yellow pegasus pony with a long pink mane and tail in front of a small tree with some birds on it. Her cutie mark was three pink butterflies.
"Oh my. Um, stop please, everyone, umm. Excuse me, sir? I mean no offense, but your rhythm is just a teeny-tiny bit off. Now, follow me, please. A-one, a-two, a-one two three-"
Unknown by her, Twilight and Moonshine walked up to her. "Hello." Twilight greeted, sppoking her and her brids.
"Eep." she squeaked and the birds flew away
"Oh my, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to frighten your birds. I'm just here to check up on the music and it's sounding beautiful. I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Moonshine. What's your name?"
"Um... I'm Fluttershy." the pegasus said in a quiet voice.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Twilight asked.
"She said her name is Fluttershy." Moonshine stated, getting a nod from the mare. "Well, um, it looks like your birds are back, so I guess everything's in order. Keep up the good work!" Then Fluttershy spotted Moonshine's Rockruffs and gasped, "Ooh, puppies! They are so adorable."
She sipped right over and her Rockruffs barked happily, "Rockruff..!"
"Oh I've never seen puppies like these before. They're so cute!"
"Well, in that case we'd better be going." Twilight stated.
"Wait, wait! What are they called?" Fluttershy asked.
"They're called Rockruff." Moonshine replied. "I can tell you more on the way back." Twilight groaned at Moonshines' offer.
"Oh please." Fluttershy asked.
Then the group was walking back to Ponyville with Fluttershy in tow towards the Golden Oak Library. Twilight opened the door and she sighed as she ushered the group, except for Fluttershy inside the house,
"Well it was nice meeting you, Fluttershy but her little puppies need some rest." Twilight stated before slamming the door in Fluttershys' face.
"Hmph. rude much." Spike grumbled.
"Sorry, Spike, but I have to convince the Princess that Nightmare Moon is coming, and we're running out of time! I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now, where's the light?" Twilight asked, wondering why the lights were off.
Then the lights came on and they all saw the library filled with ponies. "Surprise!" everypony said and Twilight groaned.
"Surprise !" said the pink pony from before.
"Very surprised. Libraries are supposed to be quiet ." Twilight grumbled.
"Well, that's silly! What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet? I mean, duh, bo-ring! Y'see, I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were all "hello" and I was all [deep gasp], remember? Y'see I've never saw you before and if I've never saw you before that means you're new, 'cause I know everypony, and I mean everypony in Ponyville!"
Twilight groaned as they walked though the crowd."And if you're new, that meant you haven't met anyone yet, and if you haven't met anyone yet, you must not have any friends, and if you don't have any friends then you must be lonely, and that made me so sad, then I had an idea, and that's why I went.” She gave a deep gasp.”I must throw a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville! See? And now you have lots and lots of friends!"
"Hehe... yeah..." Moonshine stated with a nervous smile.
Later into the night, Twilight was up in her room with a pillow over her head. She looked at her clock and groaned. Then the door opened and Spike came in with a lamp shade on his head,
"Hey Twilight! Pinkie Pie's starting "pin the tail on the pony"! Wanna play?"
"No ! All the ponies in this town are crazy ! Do you know what time it is?!" Twilight exclaimed.
"t's the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. Everypony has to stay up, or they'll miss the Princess raise the sun! You really should lighten up, Twilight. It's a party!" Spike advised. "Even Moonshine is doing it." Spike then went back to the party while Twilight mocked Spike's voice. She turned onto her bed.
"Ugh, here I thought I'd have time to learn about the Elements of Harmony but, silly me, all this ridiculous friend-making has kept me from it!" She turned back over and she saw the moon with the image of a mare in it. "Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about everlasting night. " I hope the Princess was right... I hope it really is just an old pony tale..." Twilight hoped and then Spike came back in.
"C'mon, Twilight, it's time to watch the sunrise!" He called.
Soon, everypony was gathered in Town Hall.
"Isn't this exciting? Are you excited, 'cause I'm excited, I've never been so excited— well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town and I went but I mean really, who can top that?"
Then the fanfare was heard and the Mayor of Ponyville, Mayor Mare came before everypony. "Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!" the ponies cheered happily.
"In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land," Twilight looked at the moon and saw the image of the mare disappear! "the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria...Princess Celestia!" the curtains opened... and Celestia was gone!
The ponies chattered in confusion, "This can't be good." Twilight said.
"Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!" Mayor Mare stated but Moonshine's Rockruff started barking and growling just as blue mist came into the room and onto the balcony.
"Oh no..." Suddenly a tall mare that was black as night wearing blue armor with a large blue flowing mane and tail appeared, "Nightmare Moon!" Twilight gasped.
"Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces." Nightmare Moon said.
"What did you do with our Princess?!" Rainbow Dash growled. She was about to fly up to her but Applejack held her back by the tail.
"Whoa there, Nelly..."
Nightmare Moon chuckled, "Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?"
"Ooh, ooh, more guessing games! Um, Hokey Smokes! How about... Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty—" Applejack stuffed an apple into her mouth.
"Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?"
"I did. And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!" Twilight said.
Ponies gasped.
"Well well well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here."
"You're here to... to..." Twilight stammered but Moonshine finished for her.
"Bring eternal night to all of Equestria." Moonshine growled.
"Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever !" Nightmare Moon laughed as lightning came from above.
"Not on my watch!" Moonshine growled before she flew right at her, "Moonshine NO!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Little Fool!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed and blasted Moonshine but she created a shield around her and blasted her back. "Agh! Who do you think you are?!"
"I'm Princess Celestia, daughter! That's who!" Moonshine exclaimed, earning surprised gasped from everypony.
"Well, well, well, this just got interesting..." Nightmare Moon hissed with glee before her eyes glowed white and she sent a blast of blue fire at Moonshine but her Rockruff intervened with Rock Throw. "Agh...!"
"Seize her! Only she knows where the Princess is!" Mayor Mare ordered and three pegasus guards flew towards Nightmare Moon.
"Stand back you foals!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed and she unleashed lightning onto the three guards, sending them to the ground and she turned into blue mist before flying out the door as ponies screamed and ran away. Rainbow broke free from Applejack.
"Come back here!" she cried but she was long gone. "Night time.. forever.." Rainbow stated before she spotted Twilight and Moonshine racing out of Town Hall. "Where are they going?"
At the library, Twilight put Spike to bed and she frantically searched the library for anything on the Elements of Harmony. "Elements. Elements. Element. Agh! How am I gonna stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?"
Suddenly, Rainbow got in her face, "And just what are the Elements of Harmony? And who's you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy? Woah-" she was pulled back by Applejack.
"Settle down, Sally. She ain't know spy.." Applejack said and Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity came in. "But she sure knows what's going on. Don't ya Twilight?"
Twilight nodded. "I've read all about the story of Nightmare Moon. Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her. But I don't know what they are, where to find them. I don't even know what they do." she said.
"Easy, there are six elements but only five are known; Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity and Loyalty. The sixth is a completely mystery. Legends says that when all five elements are brought together then the sixth element will be revealed. There is also legend of a seventh Element. It is said that the last known location of the Elements are in the Everfree Forest, at the Castle of the Two Sisters." Moonshine explained, earning shocked looks from the girls. "How do you know that?" Twilight asked.
"Princesses daughter, remember?" Moonshine pointed out.
"Right.." Twilight said. "Well looks like we'e going into the Everfree Forest, Moonshine."
"No can do sugarcubes, we're not letting any friends of ours go into that forest alone." Applejack stated. "Especially since your friend here is Celestia's daughter. Nightmare Moon might wanna get her too."
"How bad can that forest be?" Moonshine questioned. Her answer came when the girls arrived at the entrance of the forest.
"Alright then... let's go." Twilight said. The girls nodded and they soon started walking through the forest. "So none of youh have been in here before?" Twilight asked.
"Of course not. It's ghastly." Rarity replied. Moonshine's Rockruffs sniffed around the area for any sign of danger. The group came to a cliffside. "How come ponies don't come in here?" Moonshine asked.
"Nopony knows.." Rainbow said in a scary voice. "Because anypony who comes in..." she stalked towards Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy. "Rainbow, quit it!" she scolded. "has never come.. OUT!" Suddenly, the cliffside collapsed and the girls were sent down the cliff side. Rainbow, Fluttershy and Moonshine flew up. "Fluttershy, Moonshine, quick!" Rainbow called as she swooped down.
"Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness..." Fluttershy whimpered.
Rainbow grabbed Pinkie Pie while Fluttershy grabbed Rarity by the tail. Moonshine grabbed her Rockruffs in her magic and Applejack grabbed a branch but she saw Twilight sliding down and she grabbed onto the edge of the cliff.
"Hold on.. I'm comin." Applejack slid down and grabbed her hooves.
"Applejack, what do I do?" Twilight whimpered.
Applejack held on and she looked up and told Twilight "... Let go."
"Are you crazy?!" Twilight exclaimed.
"No I ain't. I promise you'll be safe."
"That's not true."
"Now listen here. What I'm sayin is the honest truth. Let go.. and you'll be safe." Twilight looked into Applejack's eyes and she trusted her and she let go. "YAAAAHHH!" then she stopped falling and saw Moonshine had her in her magic,
"Got'cha." she smiled. Twilight looked and saw Applejack hopping down some small ledges down to the bottom.
Moonshine placed Twilight on the ground and her Rockruffs came up and nuzzled Twilight, "Thanks Moonshine." Twilight thanked. Moonshine nodded and the girls continued walking unaware of a blue mist moving into the forest and an animal roaring.
The girl continued walking though the small ravine when Moonshine's Rockruffs started growling. "Rockruff, what is it?" Moonshine asked and suddenly a large animal with the body of a lion, the tail of a scorpion and the wings of bat appeared in front of the girls. "A manticore!" Twilight exclaimed. The manticore roared at them. "We gotta get passed him."
The girls lunge forward and Rarity kicked the manticore in his face, "HA! Take that you ruffian!" then the manticore roared in her face, messing up her mane. "My hair!" she wailed and remembered the manticore and dashed away, not hearing Fluttershy saying, "Wait.." in a quiet voice.
The manticore roared and noticed Applejack on its back. "Yeehaww. Git along little doggie!" she exclaimed and the manticore bucked around and tossed her off, "Woah..! All yours partner." she said to Rainbow Dash, who saluted.
"I'm on it." and lunged forwards ignoring Fluttershys' "Wait' call again.
She circled around the Manticore, agitating it and it smacked her with its tail. "YAH!"
"Rainbow!" Twilight cried in horror. Rainbow landed on the ground but she got up. The manticore growled and the ponies scurffed the ground and charged the manticore but Fluttershy got in between and yelled, "WAAAAAIIIIT!" the ponies stopped and she looked at the manticore and went up to it. The manticore growled at her, "Sh.. its alright.." Fluttershy cooed, nuzzling its paw.
The manticore saw her kind eyes and it showed her its paw. The paw had a large thorn in it. "Awww, you poor thing. I'll get that out." Fluttershy said and she pulled the thorn out of the manticore's paw. The manticore put pressure on it and smiled happily before licking Fluttershy, "Aw you're just a little ol' baby kitty, aren't you? Yes you are, yes you are." the girls used this to get passed the manticore.
The manticore let Fluttershy go and she joined the others, "How did you know about the thorn?"
"I didn't. Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness." Fluttershy replied.
Then, the girls entered a dark part of the forest, "No. My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck. Well, I didn't mean that literally." Rarity complained.
"That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn't even know it." Twilight stated.
Rarity then bumped into Moonshine, "I didn't see you there, my apologies."
"It's alright." Moonshine said. Her Rockruffs sniffed the ground for any strange and they suddenly growled, "Rockruff?"
Then the girls heard Fluttershy and Applejack scream and they looked around and saw the trees with scary faces on them. The girls except for Moonshine screamed, until they heard.. laughter. "HUH?" they turned and saw Pinkie Pie laughing at one of the trees and making funny faces back.
"Pinkie, what are you doing? RUN!" Twilight replied.
"Oh girls, don't you see?" Pinkie asked before she broke into a song.
(Pinkie Pie)
When I was a little filly and the sun was going down...
Twilight Sparkle: Tell me she's not...
(Pinkie Pie)
The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown...
Rarity: She is.
(Pinkie Pie)
I'd hide under my pillow From what I thought I saw But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way To deal with fears at all
Rainbow Dash: Then what is?
(Pinkie Pie)
She said, "Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall Learn to face your fears You'll see that they can't hurt you Just laugh to make them disappear."
Ha! Ha! Ha!
The tree she laughed at turned back to normal.
Ponies: [gasp]
(Pinkie Pie)
So, giggle at the ghostly Guffaw at the grossly Crack up at the creepy Whoop it up with the weepy Chortle at the kooky Snortle at the spooky
The ponies and Pinkie laughed at the trees and they all turned back to normal as Pinkie sang her song.
And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone and if he thinks he can scare you then he's got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna... hahahaha... heh...
Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuugh!
Soon, all of the ponies were laughing together as one.
Pinkie lead the way, after that, with the ponies following after her. She suddenly stopped and the ponies looked, "How are we gonna cross this?" Pinkie asked. There was a large river in their way and the waters looked too rough to swim across.
"What a world, what a world ." a wailing voice came. The girls turned and they saw a large purple serpent crying,
"Well, I don't know. I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this tacky little cloud of purple smoke just whisked past me and tore half of my beloved mustache clean off , and now I look simply horrid ." the serpent stated and he collaspeed into the water, sending water towards the ponies but Moonshine sheilded them.
"Oh, give me a break." Rainbow grumbled.
"That's what all the fuss is about?" Applejack asked.
Then Rarity came up, " Why, of course it is. How can you be so insensitive? Oh, just look at him. Such lovely luminescent scales."
The serpent sniffled, "I know."
"And your expertly coiffed mane."
"Oh, I know, I know."
"Your fabulous manicure."
The serpent gasped, "It's so true!"
"All ruined without your beautiful mustache."
"It's true, I'm hideous !" Rarity narrowed her eyes then, "I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected.
"What did you do that for?" the serpent asked and Rarity grabbed a sharp piece of wood.
"Rarity, what are you-“ Twilight asked before a slicing sound was heard.
"Oh-hohohoho!" the serpent moaned and the group saw that Rarity... cut her tail! She thew the wood to the side and she used her magic to attach the tail to the serpents' missing mustache. "My mustache. How wonderful."
"You look smashing."
"Oh, Rarity, your beautiful tail..." Twilight whimpered, seeing it gone.
"Oh. It's fine, my dear. Short tails are in this season. Besides, it'll grow back." Rarity said. Moonshine looked at it.
"Let me try something.." she concentrated and her horn lit up and she magically regrew Rarity's tail.
"Woah...!" Rainbow gasped.
"Oooh!" Rarity squealed with joy. "Thank you darling." Twilight then saw the river was calm now.
"We can cross now. Let's go." then the serpent lifted her up, "Ah!"
"Allow me." the ponies leaped across the serpents' body to the other side of the river. "Thanks." Moonshine called.
The serpent nodded before going back to the water.
Then the ponies approached a foggy area and saw the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters. "There it is, the ruin that holds The Elements of Harmony. We made it!" The girls walked forwards and they saw that there was a small cliff inbetween them and the ruins. There was a bridge but one side of its wasn't attached.
"Now what?" Pinkie asked.
"Duh." Rainbow said, reffering to her wings and she flew to the other side and started to attach the rope when she heard somethng calling her name.. "Rainbow...."
"Who's there?"
"Rainbow..."
"I ain't scared of you! Show yourself!" Rainbow called, ready to punch somepony. Out of the fog came three shadowbolts.
"We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria."
"Who?"
"Why, you, of course."
"Really?! I mean... Oh yeah, me. Hey, uh, you wouldn't mind telling the Wonderbolts that, would ya? 'cause I've been trying to get into that group for like, ever ."
"No, Rainbow Dash. We want you to join us, The Shadowbolts . We're the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, and soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria, but first, we need a captain. The most magnificent-"
"Yep."
"Yes."
"Bravest flyer in all the land."
"Yes," Rainbow chuckled, "it's all true."
"We need... you ."
"WOOHOO! Sign me up. Just let me tie this bridge real quick and then we have a deal." Rainbow said but the Shadowbolt leader stopped her, "No! It's them or us ." Then, Rainbow heard Twilight's voice.
"Rainbow, what's taking so long?" thenshe spotted the three Shadowbolts. "Oh no. Rainbow!"
The Shadowbolt leader made the fog cover up the path, "Well?"
Rainbow thought about it and she finally said.
"You... " the Shadowbolt smiled but Rainbow continued, "Thank you! For the offer, I mean," the Shadowbolts were shocked as Rainbow attached the bridge together, "but I'm afraid I have to say no." she flew away and the Shadowbolts turned back into blue smoke and went away.
Rainbow appeared and the ponies chered and started crossing the bridge. "See? I'd never leave my friends hangin'." she said to Twilight who smiled.
"The Castle of the Two Sisters... woah..." Moonshine smiled. Her Rockruffs suddenly growled and dashed ahead into the castle ruins. "Rockruff!" Moonshine chased after them along with the girls and they all gasped seeing Nightmare Moon, holding five stones in her magic.
"The Elements!" Twilight gasped.
"Hahaha!" So you managed to get past my tricks, huh. Clever." Nightmare Moon hissed. "But it won't be enough to beat me."
"Let the Elements go!" Moonshine exclaimed.
"Why?" Nightmare Moon snapped. "So you can bring back your precious mother?" Moonshine growled and her Rockruff charged forth. "Rockruff no!" Moonshine gasped. Nightmare Moon laughed and blasted the two Rockruffs hard, sending them crashing to the ground.
Then she laughed evily before she slammed the Element stones on the ground, causing them to break into pieces. "NO!" Twilight exclaimed.
"You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me ? Now you will never see your princess, or your sun! The night will last forever !" Nightmare Moon declared as she laughed evily.
Moonshine growled, "I don't think so!" she exclaimed. One of her Rockruffs stood up and let out a large howl before it was consumed in a bright blue light.
"Rockruff...!" Moonshine gasped.
"What the-?" Rainbow exclaimed.
"What's wrong with it?" Fluttershy gasped.
Rockruff grew larger in size and turned bipeadal in the moonlight. When the light was gone, there was a slouched, bipedal wolf or werewolf. It has short red fur with white on its lower legs, and a white streak that covers its face, underbelly, and tail. It has pointed, button ears with black tips, three large tufts of fur on each side of its face, a triangular black nose, and a mouth full of sharp teeth. While the sclerae, irises, and pupils of its eye are visible, they all glow a pinkish red and no distinctive colors are visible.
A mane of fur covers its back and shoulders, sweeping forward over its head to form a crescent moon shape. On either side of its body, just below the shoulders, two small rocks resembling claws poke out of the mane. A single, bigger stone projects out of the front of the mane over its head. Each of this form's paws has three black claws, and it has a stubby tail covered in long fur.
"Roooooo!"
Everypony gasped while Moonshine smiled, "Lycanroc! Alright!" she exclaimed.
"Lycanroc?" Twilight gasped.
"The evolved form of Rockruff with three different forms; Midday, Midnight and Dusk. He evolved into the Midnight form." Moonshine explained.
Moonshines's other Rockruff barked happily for its sibling. Lycanroc smiled before it howled and punched the ground, creating a string of large, glowing, blue rocks that stuck Nightmare Moon and sent her cashing into the wall.
"Awesome, you learned Stone Edge!" Moonshine gasped in awe. Nightamre Moon got to her hooves.
“Impossible, you should be able to stand up to me?!"
"Yes, we can Nightmare Moon. Even on the darkest day. There's Hope!" Moonshine exclaimed and when she did, the stone piece started to glow and shimmer.
"What?"
"Moonshine is right." Twilight added. "And you can't destroy the Element like that. Because the spirit of the Elements of Harmony, are right here!
"Applejack , who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of... honesty !" some of the stone pieces circled Applejack and as Twilight continued, the other pieces did the same thing. "Fluttershy , who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of... kindness !
Pinkie Pie , who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of... laughter !
Rarity , who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift represents the spirit of... generosity !
And Rainbow Dash , who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire represents the spirit of... loyalty !
The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us."
"You still don't have the sixth or seventh Element! The spark didn't work!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed.
“But it did! A different kind of spark. I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all... are my friends !" Twilight declared and suddenly a bright light appeared above her, revealing another elemental stone.
Then, Moonshine's chest glowed and she floated into the air and into the center of Twilight and the girls. "You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the... the spark , that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of magic !
And Moonshine.... giving me comfort and reassurance even when I was at my lowest, represents the seventh Element.. the Element of.. Hope!"
All of the Elements revealed themselves and created necklaces for Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy while Twilight and Moonshine both gained crowns on their heads and the Elements magic combined together and consumed Nightmare Moon in its magic.Nooo ! Nooo!"
Suddenly, a large flash filled the castle as the magic worked.
When the light was gone, the ponies were all laying on the ground. "Ugh.. my head.." Rainbow groaned.
"Everypony, okay?" Applejack asked. Moonshine and the girls nodded and looked at their Elemental necklaces and crowns that matched their cutie marks... except for Moonshine.. who didn't have a cutie mark like the other girls. Her element crystal was a rainbow colored heart.
"Gee Twilight, I thought you were just talking a lot of hooey, but you were right. We really to represent to Elements of Friendship." Applejack stated.
"Indeed you do." a familiar voice came. The ponies looked and saw the sun rising in the sky and ball of light appeared and came into the ruins which revealed itself to be Princess Celestia.
"Mom!"
"Princess Celestia!"
Moonshine and Twilight trotted over to her and nuzzled her.
"Moonshine, Twilight Sparkle, I knew you could do it."
"But you told me it was just an old pony tale." Twilight stated.
"I told you that you needed to make some friends." Celestia corrected. "Nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moons' return and I knew it was you two who had the magic inside to defeat her. But you couldn't unleash it until you let true friendship into your hearts." Twilight and Moonshine smiled at their friends.
"And into one's life as well." Celestia walked over to a small dark blue pony with a flowing blue mane and tail like Celestias. She wore a black crown on her head and she wore a black necklace with a crescent moon in the center. She also wore silver shoes on her hooves, "Princess Luna.." Luna awoke and gasped, seeing her elder sister.
"It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this." Celestia said as she sat down in front of her sister, "Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together little sister."
"Sister?" Rainbow and the others gasped.
"Will you except my friendship?" Celestia asked Luna. Luna smiled and then hugged her elder sister, "I'm so sorry. I missed you so much big sister."
Celestia let loose some tears as well. "I've missed you too… and I want to introduce you to somepony.." Celestia brought Luna over to Moonshine. "Luna… this is Moonshine… you're niece."
Luna smiled at Moonshine and Moonshine smiled back and the two hugged each other. "HI Auntie Luna.." Moonshine greeted.
"H-Hi… Moonshine."
Pinkie Pie started crying before she stopped, "Hey you know what this calls for?" she asked and soon everypony was back in Ponyville. "A Party!"
There was a huge party in Ponyville for the return of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Celestia and Luna entered the town and the ponies bowed to her. A pair of fillies gave Luna a necklace made of flowers. Luna was surprised but she smiled thankfully at her sister.
Twilight and Moonshine were happy for them, but suddenly, Twilight looked sad, "Why so glum, my faithful student? Are you not happy that your quest is complete and you can return to your studies in Canterlot."
"That's just it. Just when I've learned how wonderful it is to have friends. I have to leave them." Twilight said sadly.
"Spike, take a letter." Celestia stated and Spike started taking a letter. "I, Princess Celestia hereby decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle and the my daughter, Moonshine will study the Magic of Friendship. They must report to me their findings from their new home in Ponyville.'
The girls gathered around them and cheered while Lycanroc and Rockruff smiled happily. "Oh thank you, Princess Celestia. I'll study harder than ever before.."
All of the ponies cheered happily as they now had two more residents to add to their town.
Moonshine was down in Twilight's basement lab, wearing a mask while she was wielding some pieces of metal together. When she stopped wielding, she pulled up the mask and wiped the sweat from her face, "Phew.. there... looks good." she commented. Then Spike and Twilight came downstairs, "Hey Moonshine, what are you working on?" Twilight asked.
"The prosthetic fin for Toothless." Moonshine replied. "And after a couple hours; its done and ready for testing." Spike and Twilight looked at the prosthetic fin. "Woah...." they gasped. It resembled Toothless' other tail fin. It had metal odds connected to the base and coated in a sheet of flexible paper. "I put a spell on it so its' fire, water and lightning proof." Moonshine added with pride.
"Moonshine, this is amazing." Twilight praised.
"Now time to give it a test run.." Moonshine smiled. "Oh Toothless~"
To say Toothless was excited to try on his new tail fin was an understatement. The Night Fury was bounding around Moonshine with a gummy smile. "Hehe, I know, I know..." Moonshine cooed. "You're excited, but calm down a little. Hehehe..." Toothless came to her side and laid his tail down. Moonshine attached the prosthetic to the tail and secured it. "There we go, Toothless." Toothless looked at the prosthetic and moved it up and down with his other tail fin simultaneously. "Perfect..now how about a test flight with it?"
Toothless nodded excitedly.
Soon the trio, Lycanroc and Rockruff were outside of the Golden Oak Library. "Okay Toothless, whenever you're ready." Moonshine called. The Night Fury nodded and spread his wings and he took to the sky and the he was flying perfectly. He looked at this tail fin as it held up greatly with glee as he flew higher into the air and performed dive in the air and pulled up with great speed. "Alright Moonshine, you did it!" Spike cheered.
"Woo-Hooo!" Moonshine cheered, seeing her prosthetic working like a charm. Toothless came down and hovered in front of the group with a gummy smile. "Hehehe, he loves it, Moonshine." Twilight smiled, hugging her friend.
Then Toothless heard something, "Lookout!" Toothless turned around to see a rainbow missle heading right for them. He gasped flew higher, avoiding it, but it slammed into Moonshine and into the library.
THUD!
"Ugh..." Moonshine groaned.
"Moonshine!" Twilight cried in worry. Moonshine sat up and saw books and paper littered all over the floor along with a familiar rainbow pegasus. "Rainbow Dash?" Moonshine called, getting the mares' attention. "Oh.... hehe... sorry about that Moonshine." Rainbow apologized with a sheepish smile.
"What are you doing?" Spike asked.
"I was practicing my new trick; the Corkscrew Flash, but I lost control." Rainbow answered as she shook off the dust from her fur. Moonshine stood up, "I see you got that dragon of yours in the air now."
"Yeah, her prosthetic fin is incredible!" Spike exclaimed. "She really knows engineering." Moonshine blushed at Spikes' comment. "Aw... Spike."
"Hey Moonshine, maybe you could help me with my new trick?" Rainbow asked the alicorn mare.
"Well, I don't have anything else to do today, so I guess its alright." Moonshine replied.
"Yes!" Rainbow cheered. "Come on!" Rainbow zipped off and Moonshine turned to Twilight and Spike, "Do you want my help to clean up, Twilight?" she offered.
"No, no Moonshine, it's alright. You go with Rainbow Dash." Twilight stated, picking up a few books in her magic, ready to put them back on the shelves.
"Okay, Come on Toothless." Moonshine called. The Night Fury warbled and flew into the air, "Lycanoc! Rockruff..!" The wolf and puppy pokemon leaped out of the balcony window and followed their trainer. They found Rainbow in a field standing on a cloud, "There you are."
"Hi Rainbow, so how's this trick of yours supposed to go?" Moonshine asked. Rainbow flew down to the ground and picked up a piece of paper that was being held down by a rock. "Here Moonshine." Moonshine took the paper in her magic.
The paper read: Corkscrew Flash; It had Rainbow flying high into the air and performing three circles in the air, climbing higher with each other, then it had her spinning in the air four times before she would dive towards the ground and come up at the last minute."
"Hmmm... I think you should replace the four spins you have here, Rainbow." Moonshine replied.
"Huh?" Rainbow asked confused.
"If you spin four time after you do the corkscrew, you'll get dizzy and lose your balance which is probably why you crashed before." Moonshine explained. "Try replacing it with three flips in the air rather than spins."
"Hmm... alright. I'll give it a try." Rainbow stated and she took off like a rocket into the sky and she went straight into performing the three circles, climbing higher into the air with each one, then she performed three flips in the air, helping her gain more altitude. Finally, she dove towards the ground at high speeds and she came up at the last second, leaving behind a rainbow steak. Rainbow stopped and she flew back down to Moonshine, "That was awesome!" she exclaimed. "The first time, I got so dizzy that I lost control of my flying, but this time it was completely different. Thanks Moonshine."
Moonshine smiled at her friends, "Happy to help, Rainbow." She trotted back to Ponyville to check on its residence and maybe lend a helping hoof if need be. "Oh Moonshine darling~" Moonshine and her friends turned and saw Rarity trotting over to them, "Oh hey, Rarity. What is it?"
"Moonshine darling, you'd you be a dear and help me gather some gems from the gem mines?" Rarity asked.
"Okay Rarity." Moonshine stated.
"Perfect!" Rarity exclaimed. Soon, the girls were at the gem mines, each hauling carts behind them, "So what are these gems for?" Moonshine couldn't help but ask.
"Oh darling, these gems are for some of my clients. Turns out, ponies adore having colorful gems on their dresses and other clothing." Rarity said. "So I want to gather lots of gems just for the occasion."
"Okay, Rarity." Moonshine smiled.
"Good, now let's get to work." Rarity added. Two hours quickly passed, and the girls had gathered a lot of gems filling both carts and were on their way back to Ponyville, "Are you sure you can handle it, darling?" Rarity asked, turning back towards Moonshine who was struggling to pull the cart. "Ugh... I'm okay... ugh..." but the sweat coming down her face and the dirt on her front hooves from all the digging says otherwise.
"Well were almost home darling." Rarity assured and within a few minutes they were at the front step of the Carousal Boutique. Moonshine let out a relieving sigh and detached herself from the cart.
"You head on in and I'll take care of this." Rarity said grabbing some of the gems in her magic and bringing them in. Moonshine nodded before she walked away with her pokemon and Toothless.
Moonshine was back at the Golden Oak Library resting in her bed with an ice pack on her back. "Ugh... man those carts are tough..." she groaned. Lycanroc, Rockruff and Toothless looked at each other, worried. Twilight then came into the room, "Hey Moonshine, how's your back?"
"A little better." Moonshine stated. "Thanks for the ice pack by the way."
Twilight smiled, "Of course.." suddenly, there was a loud crash, "MOONY!"
"Pinkie Pie?!" The mares exclaimed in shock.
"Lycanroc?!"
"Rockruff?!"
Pinkie Pie came bursting into Moonshines' room. "Moony, I need you for something important. Really, really, really, really, really important...!" Pinkie said quickly. Moonshine blinked at Pinkie in shock. "Umm.... okay..." Moonshine stated.
"But Moonshine, what about your back?" Twilight inquired, worried about her friends' back problem. Moonshine got out of bed, "Ugh.. I think it'll be fine..."
"YEAAAAHHH!" Pinkie cheered and she grabbed Moonshine and took her away. "WOAH!"
Twilight sighed in dismay, "Lycanroc?"
"Rockruff?"
Toothless warbled in worry.
"Keep an eye on her, you three, please?" Twilight asked them.
"Rockruff!"
"Lycan."
Toothless nodded and the three went off to Sugarcube Corner.
At Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie lead Moonshine to her room where it was flooded with all sorts of sweets; cupcakes, cakes, muffins, cookies and more. So... many more. "Umm... so... what's so important Pinkie?"
"Ah, so you brought her here, good." Applejack said, coming into the room. "Huh? Applejack?" Moonshine said. "What are you doing here? What's going on?"
"Well Pinkie and I were talkin and she suggested that she can cook better sweets than I can." Applejack explained. "So we decided to have a little contest where we would have somepony taste test all of the sweets we made and judge which one of us is the better cook."
"And... what does this have to do with me?" Moonshine asked. Pinkie Pie emerged from beside her, "Isn't it obvious, Moony. The judge will be you." Moonshine's eyes widened as she looked at the large, large amount of sweets. "Soo... what do you say?" at that moment, Lycanroc, Rockruff and Toothless arrived and gawked at the amount of sweets that littered the room.
"Umm..." Moonshine thought. As a filly, she really didn't eat sweets that much. Maybe only a cookie once in a while but she was nothing compared to her mother, who adored cakes and sweets and would try to eat one whenever she got the chance. Moonshine looked at her friends, who were waiting for an answer. ".... Okay..."
"Yeah!"
"Yee-Haw!"
Lycanroc, Rockruff and Toothless looked at each other with worry. This wasn't gonna end well.
Soon, Moonshine was sitting in front of the sweets that Applejack and Pinkie Pie made. Moonshine gulped nervously. "Come on, Moony, what are you waiting for?" Pinkie asked.
"Oh.. um.. r-right.." Moonshine stated. Moonshine began eating the sweets that Pinkie and Applejack made for her. She ate and ate and ate and ate and ate. Finally, after about four hours, all of sweets wee gone and Moonshine was laying on the floor with her mouth coated in some frosting and her stomach bulging. Her stomach gurgled sickly and Moonshine placed her hoof on it, "Ugh..." she moaned quietly. She then saw Pinkie and Applejack standing over her. "So who won sugarcube?" Applejack asked.
"Whose the best cook out of the two of us?" Pinkie added.
"Ugh... umm.... it's a.. ugh.. tie.." Moonshine said as she staggered to her feet.
"Yeah!" Pinkie cheered. Moonshine slowly staggered over to Lycanroc, Rockruff and Toothless with her bulging stomach and a sick feeling in her throat. "Uh, Moonshine? You alright there sugarcube?" Applejack asked, noticing how unwell she looked.
"I-I'm.. urp.. fine.." Moonshine replied, almost tuning green in the face. "I-I'm gonna go back home now..." Moonshine painfully walked down the stairs and exited Sugarcube Corner and she headed back to the library. The moon was full and out by the time she got back. She opened the door and she found Spike and Twilight. "Moonshine, there you-Woah! You don't look so good." Spike notified.
Twilight went over and she felt her friends stomach, "Oooh!" Moonshine grunted.
"You didn't eat a lot of sweets, did you, Moonshine?" Twilight questioned with a raised eyebrow. Moonshine nodded and Twilight groaned, "Moonshine, you can't eat a lot of sweets! You'll end up vomiting your guts out!" Moonshine just groaned, looking green in the face. "Come on, let's get you to bed and some medicine." Moonshine stiffly nodded and had Twilight lead her upstairs to her room.
Moonshine was soon laying in bed, trying to get to sleep, but she couldn't cause of upset stomach and the constant vomiting she endured. "Ugh..." she moaned as her stomach gurgled sickly. It was gonna be a long night.
Days later, Twilight and Spike wee having breakfast when Moonshine came downstairs, followed by Lycanroc, Rockruff and Toothless. Her mane was a bit frazzled and she had bags under her eyes due to her lack of sleep, but her stomach was back to normal. "Hey Moonshine, feeling better?" Twilight asked. Moonshine nodded.
"Think you can eat something?" Moonshine shook her head. Then there was a knock at the door and Rainbow Dash came into the room, "Hey Twilight, I need to borrow Moonshine, real fast thanks." she said as she quickly gabbed the Alicorn and zipped away. "Hey!" Twilight called but she was already gone. She groaned in annoyance, "Spike, watch the library."
"Right." Spike saluted.
"Lycanroc, Rockruff, Toothless, let's go." Twilight said as she teleported herself and the group away.
Rainbow, meanwhile had taken Moonshine to Ghastly Gorge. "Why are we here?" Moonshine groaned, rubbing her eyes.
"Angel Bunny, Fluttershy's pet, wandered in here and she wants us to go and get it cause she's too scared to get him herself." Rainbow said.
"O-Okay..." Moonshine groaned. She spread her wings and she followed Rainbow Dash as they flew through the Gorge searching for Angel Bunny. Soon, Rainbow spotted him. "There!" she pointed, seeing the bunny near some large holes in the wall. "What are those holes for?" Moonshine asked, confused while Rainbow's eyes widened in horror. "Those are quarry eel nests!" she exclaimed.
Moonshine gasped in horror as some of the quarry eels; large red and yellow eels with large eyes, came out of the holes and spotted the tiny bunny, who screeched in fear. "Angel!" Rainbow exclaimed as she and Moonshine dove towards the quarry eels. Rainbow distracted some of the eels while Moonshine flew in and grabbed Angel bunny. "Got him!" Moonshine called lethargically, but one of the eels bashed her in the side, "Ugh!" the impact sent her cashing into the wall and sending Angel into Rainbow's arms. "Moonshine!" Rainbow called to her downed friend.
Moonshine groaned as she came to from the fall and she looked around. She heard rocks cracking from above her and she saw rocks beginning to fall. "Moonshine, get out of there!" Rainbow called, but Moonshine, with everything she's been through, was just too weak and tired to get out of the way in time. All she could do was brace herself as rocks filled her vision and she heard one final cry, "MOONSHINE!"
Beep....
Beep...
Beep....
Beep...
That's what Moonshine heard when she came to and saw six blurry figures in front of her, "Is she gonna be okay?" the orange blur asked.
"Oh, I'm so worried.." the yellow blur added. Moonshine's vision cleared and she saw that it was Twilight and the girls surrounding her bedside. "Moonshine..." Twilight called gently. Moonshine groaned as she looked around and saw her right front leg in a cast being held by a sling as well as her back left leg and her right wing in a cast and a bandage on her head. "W-What happened?" she groaned.
"You got trapped in an avalanche in Ghastly Gorge, sugarcube." Applejack exclaimed. "Twilight and your critters dug you out and rushed you to Ponyville Hospital."
"The doctor said the rocks broke your legs and wings, hence the slings and casts." Twilight added. "He said you'll make a full recovery in a few weeks."
Moonshine nodded, "Moonshine, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have dragged you into this." Rainbow apologized, hanging her head low.
"I-It's alright... Rainbow..." Moonshine stammered.
"Moonshine, it's not okay!" Twilight exclaimed. "You have to stop being so, and don't take this the wrong way, naive." Moonshine blinked at her best friend, "Naive?"
"Ah, think what Twilight means to say.. is that you bein' easily tricked or bein' too kind for your own good." Applejack added.
"But I'm just being who I am." Moonshine replied. "There's nothing wrong with that, is there?" Moonshine questioned.
"No, not at all darling, but sometimes being too nice can get you into a lot of trouble." Rarity explained, referring to her injuries. Moonshine looked sad at that moment, "I know you like helping ponies, Moonshine." Twilight added coming up to her, "But sometimes you have to know when you can't help somepony; friend or not."
"But I was trying to be like mom. She always helps ponies when they need help." Moonshine replied.
"Yes, but Celestia also knows when she has to decline helping somepony." Twilight added.
"Twilight is right, honey." a motherly voice came and the ponies turned and saw Princess Celestia entering the room. "Princess, what are you doing here?" Twilight asked.
"I'm here to check on my daughter. Spike wrote to me, informing me of what happened." Celestia replied. Celestia came to her daughters' bedside and rubbed her head, "And Twilight is right, Moonshine. Although, I help ponies whenever they need it, I also know when not to help somepony. Like when I'm not feeling well." Celestia nuzzled her daughter, "I'm proud of you, wanting to help the ponies, but perhaps you could learn when to say 'no' sometimes." Moonshine nodded at her mother, "Okay mom.... should I write a letter to you about it?"
Celestia chuckled, "This time; no honey."
"Okay Mom..." Moonshine stated before they heard scraping at the door, "Rockruff..! Rock!"
"Rockruff?" Moonshine called. Rockruff managed to push the door open and he, Lycanroc and Toothless entered the room. Rockruff whimpered, see his trainer injured, "Rockruff?"
"I'll be alright, Rockruff." Moonshine said, as Rockruff rubbed her uninjured leg.
"Those three seemed awfully worried about ya, sugarcube." Applejack stated. Moonshine rubbed Lycanroc on his mane, making him smile, "Lycan.."
Toothless warbled and nudged Moonshine's casts. "Aww, Toothless. Don't worry, I'll be fine.." Moonshine reassured, earning a small warble from the Night Fury. Then Nurse Redheart came into the room, "Alright everypony, Princess Moonshine needs her rest. You all have to come back tomorrow." she said.
The Mane 6 left the room one by one but Rockruff, Toothless and Lycanroc weren't to keen on leaving. Rockruff whimpered and nuzzled Moonshines' leg, not wanting to go. Celestia rubbed the little puppy pokemon, "She'll be fine, Rockruff. Nuse Redheart will look after her." she reassured. "Now come on, you three. Your friend needs her rest."
Lycanroc, Rockruff and Toothless nodded and they left the room, leaving mother and daughter in the room. Celestia kissed Moonshine on the head, "Love you, honey."
"I love you too, mom." Moonshine said and Celestia left the room, leaving her daughter to recover. Moonshine yawned and she closed her eyes as Redheart closed the curtains to help her rest and Moonshine fell asleep and Redheart closed the door quietly.
Royal Family Freaky Friday
Author's Note
I know a Royal Problem episode is from Season 7 but I figured it would be good to show some family time between Moonshine, Luna and Celestia along with adding a bit of Disney's Freaky Friday situation.
Royal Family Freaky Friday
Today, Moonshine was packing her things in her room. She was going to Canterlot, to visit her mother and Auntie Luna for the week. She has been wanting to spend some quality time with them ever since Luna came back from being banished. Twilight and Spike couldn't be happier for her as they came up to the room, "Hey Moonshine, ready for some family time with Celestia and Luna?" Twilight asked.
Moonshine nodded, "I can't wait! I know we're going to have the best time...!" she squealed in joy.
Twilight and Spike smiled at her, "Have a good time, Moonshine." Spike praised. Moonshine nodded and the group heard whinnies coming from outside, "Well that's my ride, you guys. Are you sure I should leave Lycanroc and the others here?"
"Don't worry, they'll be fine here for a week without you." Twilight reassured, pushing Moonshine towards the door, "Now you go and enjoy your family."
"Hehe, right." Moonshine opened the door and carried her suitcase as she went over to the chariot pulled by two of her mothers' guards. Moonshine entered the chariot and waved to her friends as the guards flew into the air towards Canterlot.
When she arrived at the Palace, she was escorted to the throne room where her mother and Auntie Luna stood. "Moonshine, dear." Celestia greeted. "It's wonderful to see you."
"It's good to see you to mom, Auntie Luna." Moonshine said.
"We'll have a grand time together, right sister?" Celestia asked, looking at Luna. "Yes, everything will be fun.. sister.." Luna said but she looked like she was pouting about something while Celestia looked happy. Moonshine looked confused. Something was up.
Moonshine was escorted to her old room in the palace and she started to unpack her bags when... "Psst..."
"Huh?" She looked around and she heard the 'Psst' again. Looking at the desk near her bedside, There was a small ballerina pony doll spinning around on a stand and the pony looked like.. "Twilight?" Moonshine went over, "Is that you? How are you here?"
"I'm not. I'm still home. It's an easy spell. I'll show you later. Anyway, I wanted to check in on you not in a meddling kinda way but in a friendly hows it going kinda way, so hows it going?" Twilight asked quickly.
"Kinda weird now. I think something's up with mom and Auntie Luna." Moonshine reported.
"What makes you say that?" Twilight asked.
"You know how someponies say and look like there's nothing wrong but you get the feeling that something is definitely going on?" Moonshine asked, earning a nod from Twilight. "Well I'm getting that vibe from mom and Luna."
"Hmm..." Twilight thought. "Odd... see if you can find out anything more about this." Moonshine nodded, "Right."
Then one of Celestia's Solar Guards came into the room, "Your mother has your breakfast ready, Princess." he said.
"Okay." Moonshine replied and the guard closed the door. "Well, here I go." Moonshine said to Twilight as she exited the room. Moonshine entered the dining room where she found her mother placing a plate on the table. The plate had a stack of pancakes that was topped with blueberries and whipped cream. "Hehe, awww Mom. " Moonshine blushed. "You still make the faces on the pancakes. Just like when I was a foal..."
"Hehe, of course darling." Celestia said as she sat down. "Just a way to show I care." Then the door opened and in came Luna. She had bags under her eyes and a frown on her face. "Good morning, sister." Celestia greeted. Luna looked at her with her frown. "Join us?" Celestia asked, levitating a stack of pancakes she made for Luna. "Too tired." Luna said and she levitated a pineapple in her magic before taking a bite out of it and walking passed Celestia, "Please excuse me."
Celestia put down the plate and stuck a fork and knife into her stack, "Woah... last night must have been really hard on her." Moonshine said.
"Oh no, honey.. she's like this.. every morning." Celestia said, looking sad before she put her stack of pancakes into a trash can before walking away.
Back in her room, Moonshine reported what happened to Twilight, "I think Auntie Luna's hurting Moms' feelings without even realizing it." she stated.
"Poor Celestia. That's so sweet that she makes her sister pancakes every morning." Twilight cooed with a smile. Moonshine gave her a deadpanned stare, "She's your mentor. I think you might be biased."
"Fair enough." Twilight added. "So what are you gonna do?"
"Nothing, yet. I have to get all the facts. I asked Luna if I could spend some time with her this evening. So I'll be able to see what's going with her." Moonshine explained. Then one of Luna's bat pony guards came into the room, "Princess Lunas' waiting for you, Princess."
Moonshine nodded and she joined the guard in exiting the room.
Moonshine entered the throne room as night was upon Canterlot. She saw Luna placing purple flowers onto the small balconies that lines the hallway. "Wow, Auntie Luna. You do this every night?" Moonshine asked as she came up to her.
"Lavender's calming scent is known to aid dreamers in achieving a restorative sleep." Luna explained letting Moonshine smell the lavender flowers, "That's so thoughtful!"
"I try my best to make sure the ponies in this castle sleep peacefully." Luna added. Then the throne rooms' door opened and out came Celestia and a few dignitary ponies, "And so, then I said, "Touring? More like 'boring'!" the pony said before laughing along with Celestia, "Oh, you really are a card!"
As they walk by, Luna sighs, "But as always, my sister is too busy having fun with dignitary ponies to acknowledge anything I do. Hmph!" Luna huffed before walking away with the cart of lavender flowers. Moonshine looked in front and behind her, "I gotta tell Twilight."
In the room, Moonshine paced back and forth in front of Twilight, "So Mom and Auntie Luna are hurting each other without realizing it. And instead of talking about it, they're just getting colder and more distant."
"And they're Celestia and Luna. So it's not like you can just confront them." Twilight replied.
"Actually, that's exactly what I was gonna do." Moonshine stated nonchalantly, earning a panicked response from Twilight, "What?! Are you crazy?!" she exclaimed before she regained her composure, "I mean, heh, you do whatever you think is best."
"Thanks for the confidence." Moonshine deadpanned.
"I do. But the last time the princesses fought, Luna turned into Nightmare Moon, and Princess Celestia had to banish her for a thousand years! That can't happen again!" Twilight informed.
"Well, I can't do nothing." Moonshine replied. "Their my family and I have to help them rekindle their relationship they lost for 1,000 years."
Twilight nodded, knowing how much Celestia and Luna meant to her. Then the girls noticed a small light coming from the door. "Huh? What's that light?" Twilight asked.
"I don't know..." Moonshine opened the door and gasped, "My Element?!" Indeed, it was her Element of Hope, floating in front of the door before it magically floated onto her head and stopped glowing. "Woah... I've never seen your Element do that before." Twilight stated.
"Me either.." Moonshine said. "Wonder why?"
The next morning, Moonshine was greeted by another stack of pancakes, this time decorated with pineapples. "Wow. I almost feel bad eating this. It's adorable."
"Like I said, I enjoy this part." Celestia said. "So you said you element suddenly appeared at your rooms' door?"
"Yeah... have the Elements done this before when you controlled them?" Moonshine asked.
"No, never." Celestia replied. "The Elements never acted on their own before." Then the door opened and in came Luna, looking the same way she did the other morning. "Hi Auntie Luna.." Moonshine greeted.
"Hi Moonshine." Luna said sourly with a full mouth. She was about to walk away when Moonshine got out of her seat, "Auntie Luna, wait!" she called.
Luna looked at her and Moonshine was a little taken back by her frown, but she proceeded.
"I believe I've found a problem inside the palace." Moonshine informed.
"You did, honey?" Celestia asked. "What is it?"
"... You two.." Moonshine said, pointing at the two with a sheepish smile.
"Excuse me/I beg your pardon." Celestia and Luna said in unison.
"I think you're accidentally hurting each other's feelings without realizing it." Moonshine said. The Princesses looked away from each other, so Moonshine played negotiator. "Mom, does it bother you that Auntie Luna never notices the wonderful breakfasts that you prepare for her?"
"Uh... Y-Yes. It does." her mother admitted.
"Auntie Luna, tell Mom how you feel about the fact that she never acknowledges the work you put into lining the hallway with lavender every night." Moonshine encouraged.
"I... Well, I... I-It's not the best feeling." Luna admitted before she tuned to Celestia. She gently pushed Moonshine away as she talked with her elder sister, "I'm sorry I never noticed that you make fruit faces on pancakes, but nights are long for me. You might be a morning pony, but I am half-asleep."
"You think I don't get tired? I'm exhausted! Oh, I apologize for not noticing flowers in a wall sconce. But by the time I get to retire for the night, I can barely see straight! Even so, I still make an effort to smile!" Celestia said, smiling.
"Like smiling is so hard." Luna dismissed, wiping the smile off of Celestias' face.
"I-I-I'm sure that's not what Auntie Luna meant to say." Moonshine added quickly.
"Is that what exhausts you? Smiling and being adored by everypony?" Luna asked her sister, annoyed.
"And you have it so much worse, do you?! You've spent your evenings flitting around giving ponies lovely dreams! Oh, it sounds just awful!" Celestia retorted.
Moonshine got in between her mother and Auntie before the tension between them escalsted even more. "Okay! I feel like we should step back, take a deep breath..." but Luna dragged her away by her magic. "Don't presume to know what it is like to govern the dream realm!" she exclaimed at her sister.
"And yet you know exactly what it's like to be me ?! Oh, please!" Celestia exclaimed back. Then Luna broke into song,
(Luna)I don't need to live all large You don't know the tasks I do To patrol the way I do for my subjects
(Celestia)Oh sister, I wish you knew All the work I have to do Just to keep you in your duties and your mess
(Luna)If you knew what I go through-
(Celestia)If you
(Both)Knew what I go through, walked a day in my own shoes,
(Luna)Well the maybe you could see all the things my way
(Celestia)Well then maybe you would See all of the reasons why I have long night
As the two were singing, Moonshine's Element of Hope started to glow on its own, which was noticed by Moonshine but not by Celestia or Luna as they continued.
(Luna)If you knew what I go through how I smile everyday.
(Celestia)I'd love to be in school, have a night without a care.
Then Moonshines' Element glowed brightly and it spread to the two sisters which they didn't notice but Moonshine could feel in heart that something was about to happen.
(Both)How I wish you'd understand and see the world my way, For just one day, just one day, just one day
Suddenly, the Element of Hope engulfed the two sisters, stopping their argument and switching their cutie marks as well! When they saw their switched cutie marks they were shocked! "Moonshine, what have you done?!" Celestia exclaimed.
"I didn't do it! My Element did it! It did some spell on its own!" Moonshine replied frantically.
"Well make it change our cutie marks back!" Luna stated.
"I don't know what spell the Element performed to switch your cutie marks... but... Twilight!" Moonshine called and Twilight suddenly appeared, "You called me, Moonshine?" Celestia and Luna were caught off guard by her sudden appearance. "Yeah. My Element switched Mom and Auntie Luna's cutie marks."
Twilight gasped, "It did?!" she exclaimed and looked at the sisters switched cutie marks. "Woah...."
"Do you know what kind of spell that it might have used to do it?" Moonshine asked.
"Hmm...." Twilight thought. "It might have been a '24 hours switch spell'. The spell lasts for 24 hours with whatever effect it had." she theorized. "So... what now?"
"Maybe... this isn't such a bad thing." Moonshine said.
"Huh?" Celestia and Luna asked.
"You said it yourselves! Neither of you believes your sister knows how hard it is to be you. So this is your chance to prove it." Moonshine suggested to her mother and auntie who looked at each other, "Well, I could use an easy day followed by a good night's sleep."
"You can try. I haven't had an easy day in, well, ever! But now, I get to sleep, and tonight will be a breeze. All right, honey. We will do this." Celestia stated.
"O-Okay, mom." Moonshine stated.
Soon, Luna was before the maid, servants and guards in the throne room. "As you can see, Celestia and I are switching places today." she announced to the ponies, who murmured in confusion until she raised her hoof, silencing them, "I assure you, I am more than capable of handling all of Celestia's, heh, duties. Dismissed." The servants, maids and guards exited the throne room. "So, what is first on my dear sister's to-do list?"
Moonshine held a long list in her magic, "It says you have a few public appearances. Store openings, judging the royal rose contest... You know, that sort of thing."
Luna chuckled, "Oh, I knew today would be easy, but I didn't think it would be that easy." and soon she was riding through Canterlot on a royal chariot, waving to the crowd with a big smile with Moonshine and Twilight behind her. At one of the store openings, Luna held a pair of scissors in her magic and tried to cut the rope... but the scissors didn't but so she just knocked the rope to the ground, earning cheers from the crowd.
At the Royal Rose Contest, Luna went around sniffing flowers, holding the first place ribbon in her magic. She was about to give the medal away when a pony waved to her and she saw more flowers for her to smell. Luna put on a smile and continued with the contest. Later, she was in front of the School of Magic, standing with a foal who was having their picture taken with her.
Luna struggled to keep up the smile while the photographer, made sure the camera was ready. Moonshine and Twilight were behind the photographer, encouraging Luna to keep smiling. Unfortunately, the moment Luna stopped smiling.. the pony took the picture.
"'Princess Luna Unhappy with Student Fundraiser?' But I wasn't unhappy!" Luna said, looking at the newspaper while she, Moonshine and Luna were sitting at the table that afternoon. Moonshine took the paper in her magic and winced, "Um, you are scowling, Auntie."
"Well, I-I didn't mean to! I've been smiling all day! My cheeks hurt! I stopped for one second! And that's when he took the picture!" Luna defended.
"Guess smiling all day isn't as easy as you thought?" Twilight questioned.
Luna took the newspaper back in her magic and read more of it, "It says here that, because of me, the school didn't raise enough funds to go on their field trip! I-I didn't mean for that to happen!" she slammed her head on the table in dismay. Moonshine flew over and lifted her auntie's head, "I know. But you can't dwell on that now. According to the list, some delegates are about to arrive for a luncheon. You need to dispel rumors of timberwolves in the White Tail Woods. The nearby towns have been in a state of panic for weeks."
"B-B-But I have to fix this!" Luna stated as she got up and tried to head back to the school but Twilight stopped her, "You can't. You need to put on a brave face and help these ponies. It's what Celestia would do." Twilight opened the door and they saw a few delegate ponies. Luna took a deep breath and shouted in her Royal Canterlot Voice, "Hello! Great news! There are no timberwolves! "
That didn't do much to sooth the ponies nerves and they burst out of the room, "No, there are definitely timberwolves!" they all screamed in unison.
"I'm sorry. But I couldn't stop thinking about those poor students. Normally, I have all the time in solitude I need to work through my problems at my own pace." Luna explained.
"Well mom, doesn't have that luxury. She has to solve the problem when they come at her, even if she's dealing with alot. Like when she was caring for me when I was a foal. She had to deal with taking care of me and all the other duties and problems that she dealt with during the day." Moonshine explained. Luna looked at her thoughtfully. She never realized how much her sister does each day. Dealing with caring for a young foal with her support ever since she was banished.... she never took it into an account.
The three ponies then heard some ponies voices coming from the other side of the door, "The princess will definitely side with me!"
"Please see reason, Mayor Cream Cheese! I'm telling you, Baltimare..."
"Ready for the town hall?" Twilight asked and Luna sighed. The trio entered the room and it was nighttime by the time they were done.
"Glad that's settled."
"And it only took three hours."
"That got heated, didn't it?"
"Still on for golf?"
"Oh, absolutely." Luna, Twilight and Moonshine came behind the ponies and Luna looked very tired. "You made it to the end of the day. Yay?" Twilight said with a nervous smile.
" Hmm? Oh. Yes, uh..." Luna yawned before handing Moonshine her list of duties, "I'm just going to turn in, then. Good shine, Moonlight and Twishine.." Luna stated before she headed off to bed. Then Princess Celestia came up to them, "Oh, hello, Moonshine, Twilight. I don't know about you, but I feel very well-rested. Where's Luna?"
"Um, uh, she already turned in for the night, mom." Moonshine informed.
"Did she now? It seems my duties were harder than my sister expected." Celestia smirked before heading off to perform Luna's duties. Soon, she was on the balcony, raising the moon into the night sky, "Moon raised! It's even easier than raising the sun." she chuckled,"What's next?" Celestia turned and saw Twilight and Moonshine curled up together asleep.
"Of course.." Celestia said as she put the two of them to bed, "Everyponys' asleep at night. Heh. Luna works alone... Oh, but it's nothing I can't handle." she levitated Luna's list in her dark blue aura. "All I have to do is watch over Equestria, visit the dream realm, and protect ponies in their nightmares. My list was three times as long!" she chuckled, throwing the list away.
On the balcony she could see the lights turning off, "All right. Everypony's asleep. You're talking to yourself, Celestia. Heh. But there's nopony else to talk to! Yet. I can talk to ponies in their dreams!" Using Luna's powers she entered the dream realm where she saw small bubbles that had everyponys' dreams, "Now, to save some ponies from their nightmares. Which aren't real, so it shouldn't be too hard, right? Right. Good call, Celestia!" and then she realized, "And I'm talking to myself again."
Suddenly, she heard a scream and she saw a small bubble with Moonshine in it, "Huh? Moonshine?" Celestia asked as she flew over to the bubble. Inside, she could see Moonshine being chased by a black pony that looked to be made of shadows and darkness. The pony wore a purple and black suit "Leave me alone!" Moonshine cried as she desperately ran away from the pony. "Hahaha... there's no escape from me, Princess...!" the pony growled.
Celestia gasped in horror. "What in Equestria is that?" she asked herself. "Grr.. no matter. Moonshine needs me." and without hesitation, she leaped into Moonshine's dream and she blasted the shadow pony. "Mommy!" Moonshine cried in joy, running over to her. "Moonshine, are you alright..?"
Moonshine nodded and then whimpered when she heard the shadow ponys' growl. Celestia stood in front of her, "Leave my daughter alone, this instant."
The shadow pony chuckled, "Why deal with me, Princess Celestia...? When you could deal with..."
"Me!" another voice came and the two tuned and they saw Nightmare Moon once more. She laughed evily as she stood in front of the pair. "Don't worry honey. I know how to handle Nightmare Moon." Celestia stated.
"Yes..." a new voice came. "But can you handle... me?!" and a new pony revealed herself. She was the same height as Celestia except her mane and tail were made of fire and she wore orange armor on he hooves, chest and on her head. Her wings looked to have armor on the edges as well. "This can't be!" Celestia gasped.
"If Luna can turn into Nightmare Moon, you can absolutely turn into me — Daybreaker! The better, prettier, and more powerful version of you!" Daybreaker stated, pointing at Celestia.
"No! I'll never turn into you!" Celestia defended.
"Deep inside, you know how powerful you are. You don't need Luna." Daybreaker said, pointing at Nightmare Moon, who growled at her, "That's not true! Even when we were apart, I knew I needed her!"
Daybreaker laughed, "Oh, please! You don't need anypony! You can do whatever you want. And all you have to do is get rid of anypony who stands in your way!" she then sent a blast towards Nightmare Moon! Celestia and Moonshine dodged the attack. "I never should've banished you to the moon! I should've destroyed you!" Daybreaker growled as she lunged at Nightmare Moon.
Then Nightmare Moon blasted Daybreaker, "You can't get rid of me so easily, sister! Unless you plan on smiling me to smithereens!" The two charged each other but Celestia came in between them, "Enough! "
Daybreaker laughed once more, "I told you I was more powerful than you!" she mocked before sending a blast at her but Moonshine gasped and deflected it. "Leave my mommy alone!" Moonshine exclaimed.
Daybeaker growled at Moonshine, "You tiny pest! Just wait until I'm through with you!" she charged Moonshine, much to the horror of Celestia, "Moonshine, No!" Moonshines' Element suddenly glowed and involuntarily fired at Darybreaker, "Ugh!" Daybreaker recovered and snarled, "Big Mistake!"
She lunged at Moonshine again but Nightmare Moon blasted Moonshine! "You're not the only one who has a bone to pick with this more, sister.." she growled. Moonshine grunted as she fell down. "Moonshine!" Celestia gasped. The shadow pony laughed at the scene, "Yes... take out that Celestial pest! When she's out of way, my plan can commence."
"What plan?" Celestia snapped.
The shadow pony laughed, "That's for you to figure out on your own.. hahahah!" the shadow pony then disappeared. Celestia looked back and saw Moonshine struggling to defend against Nightmare Moon and Daybreaker. Celestia knew there was only one pony who could help her. Luna.
In Luna's dream, she was looking in the mirror, smiling when a dream foal came up to her and said, "That smile's too wide... It's obviously not real..."
Then another dream foal came up, "Why don't you want us to go on our field trip?"
"I don't...!" Luna stammered but then her teeth started to come out of he mouth and fall on the floor, "I mean, I do!" Then more foals came in singing, "That smile's too wide... It's obviously not real..." Then Celestia appeared through the mirror. " Celestia!" Luna cried and she hugged her sister, "I'm so glad you're...!" Celestia pulled her through the mirror and back into Moonshine's dream. Moonshine was struck with a magical blast and she was sent flying. "Ugh!"
Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon laughed before they lunged at her once more, "I've seen a lot, but I haven't seen this before." Luna stated, having never seen Daybreaker before. "What happened, sister?"
"There was shadow pony in Moonshines' dream trying to harm her." Celestia explained. "When I intervened Nightmare Moon appeared along with Daybreaker.... an evil side of me." Luna gasped. "They began to fight and Moonshine intervened and now they're both after her." Moonshine managed to stand up, covered in scratches and burn marks from their magic. "Hahaha, you can't stand up to me, pest!" Daybreaker mocked before she rammed Moonshine once more, "Ugh!"
"You have to end this nightmare or else it will have a gave consequence on Moonshines' psyche." Luna informed her elder sister.
"But my magic isn't powerful enough! I thought if we worked together...!"
"I have your magic, remember? It doesn't work in the dream realm. It has to be you!"
"Oh, Luna, I can't do this! I was wrong! Your job is so incredibly hard! You have to battle nightmares and work in the darkness and do it all alone! It takes such a brave, strong pony to do what you do!" Celestia admitted, surprising Luna who also had to admit, "And that pony is you . I walked a day in your shoes. I thought all you had to do was smile and be adored all the time, but I was wrong. There is so much more to it than that."
"Gah!" Moonshine grunted as she crashed onto the ground and the realm changed into their throne room. Daybreaker landed on Celestias' throne laughing as fire filled the sides of the room. Nightmare Moon landed on the other side of her, both ready to strike Moonshine, "In order to protect Moonshine and defeat Daybreaker, you need only to trust in your strength as I do." Luna encouraged. Celestia smiled at her sister and she nodded at her.
Nightmare Moon and Daybreake both fired at Moonshine, but Celestia got in between them and blocked the blasts with he wings, "You can't destroy me! I'm everything you want to be!" Daybreaker exclaimed.
"No, you're not! You are not real, and you will never exist again! " Celestia exclaimed as she repelled both blasts, getting rid of Nightmare Moon and Daybreaker. Moonshine looked up at her mother, "M-Mom?"
"Moonshine, honey.." Celestia gasped, nuzzling her. "It's alight honey, everything's fine now."
Moonshine nodded and Luna came over, "You did it!"
"Only because you were here. I don't know how you do this alone." Celestia replied.
"So, um, did you talk to yourself?" Luna asked.
"Um, a little." Celestia admitted and the two sisters laughed. "Aghhh!" Just then, the same shadow pony appeared, "You ruined my plan!"
"What do you want, shadow pony?" Celestia demanded, standing in front of Moonshine.
"What does thou want with my niece?" Luna growled.
"Like I told your sister, Princess Luna... that's for you to find out... we'll meet again... until then...!" the shadow pony disappeared and Celestia exited the dream realm along with the others. Celestia and Luna looked at each other and smiled.
"This is serious sister.." Luna said.
"Yes Luna, whatever this shadow pony wants with my daughter; your niece... can't be good." Celestia said. The duo heard Moonshine yawn as she awoke. "Mommy? Auntie?" Celestia levitated her out of the bed and Celestia and Luna hugged her, "Moonshine, are you alright?" Celestia asked.
Moonshine nodded, "W-What does that pony want with me...?"
"We don't know... but we're going to find out.." Celestia promised. Moonshine nodded and Luna tapped Celestia on the shoulder. "Sister, I finally understand what you go through everyday while I'm asleep. I never knew how hard it was to get everything right on the first try.... especially when you had to care for Moonshine all alone.."
"Oh Luna..." Celestia hugged her sister, "It's alright. I thought all you did was give ponies lovely dreams but there's so much more to that. You protect ponies from their fears and anxieties in their dreams." Luna smiled at her sister, "And there's something else I wanted to tell you." Celestia added before she broke into song.
(Skip to 1:30. Play until 2:12)
(Celestia)Today and everyday, I will be here, I will love you I will put nothing above you 'Cause I love your messy mane And I love your grouchy glare
As Celestia sang, Moonshine's Element of Hope began to glow once more.
The way you dress and all your mess I love them through and through Whatever makes you happy, I want for you, I do I'm telling you, it's true 'Cause Luna, I love you for you!
(Luna)And you know I love you for you!
(Celestia)I love everything you do
(Both)You know that I love you!
Moonshine's Element then enveloped the sisters in its magic once more and it switched their cutie marks back to the way they were before.
Celestia and Luna looked at their cutie marks, "They're back to normal!" Luna gasped, "... But.. how...?"
"I think... my Element casted the spell to help you two see each others' lives." Moonshine said. "To help you both see how the other lives."
"So... the Element acted on its own' to teach us a lesson...?" Luna asked skeptical.
"That's what it looks like..." Moonshine replied.
Luna could only blink, "That's one weird element." Celestia and Moonshine laughed together under the dawn sun.
A week has passed and Moonshine enjoyed her quality time with her mother and Luna, despite the incident. Celestia and Moonshine shared a few sweets with each other while Luna and Moonshine played some music together. The week went by fast and it was time for Moonshine to return to Ponyville. "It's been a wonderful week, Moonshine." Celestia said.
"Yeah Mom. Thank you. You too, Auntie Luna.." Moonshine thanked.
"Your welcome." the two sisters said in unison. Moonshine smiled as she put her bag into the chariot, "Oh, and there's something that I wanted to give you Moonshine."
"Huh? What is it Mom?" Moonshine asked. Celestia pulled out seven golden tickets. "Here, seven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala; for you and your friends." Moonshines' eyes widened, seeing the tickets and she put on a small grin, "... Greeeat... hehehe..." she said nervously.
Moonshines' chariot landed in front of the Golden Oak Library and Spike opened the door. "Moonshine, hey! How was your visit?"
"It was... exciting. Hehe." Moonshine said nervously, not wanting to inform the baby dragon about the shadow pony. "Don't worry, Twilight already told me about the shadow pony." Spike said before he put a finger in front of his mouth, "Ssshhh..."
Moonshine nodded, knowing the dragon would keep the secret. "Moonshine!" Twilight called as she spotted her best friends. Moonshine entered the library, "Are you alright?" she asked, looking her over.
"Yeah.. I'm alright..." Moonshine replied with a small grin.
"Hey, why are you still wearing your Element?" Twilight asked, noticing Moonshine's Element of Hope still on her head. "... About that..."
Flashback
Moonshine and her mother and auntie came up to the tower where the Elements of Harmony are kept safe. "Time to put you back where you belong." Moonshine said, taking her Element off of her head. Celestia performed the spell to open the door, revealing the chest that held the Elements of Harmony, but when Moonshine prepared to put the Element back into the chest... it levitated out of her hooves and back onto her head!
"Huh?" Moonshine tried placing the Element back into the chest but it kept placing itself back on her head, "What's wrong with it?"
"I believe the Element refused to leave your side." Luna suggested. Moonshine looked surprised but with the way her Element was acting.... she had to agree...
Flashback Ends
"So Luna and Celestia let you keep the Element with you?" Spike questioned, earning a nod from Moonshine.
"Woah..." Twilight gasped and then she noticed the envelope. "Hey, what's in the envelope?"
"Oh..." Moonshine grumbled before she took out the eight tickets. "Tickets... to the Grand Galloping Gala...yeah..."
"Woah! Awesome!" Spike exclaimed, grabbing one while Twilight grabbed one in her magic. "This is amazing, Moonshine!" she exclaimed with a smile before noticing the frown on her face, "Moonshine...?"
Moonshine sighed, "I don't think I'm gonna go to the Gala this year.."
"Why not?" Spike asked. Moonshine gave Spike a knowing look. "Oh... right..." Since she was a filly, Moonshine was never a fan of the Grand Galloping Gala. Moonshine saw the Gala as just a boring party where ponies would just talk all day.
"Come on, Moonshine, maybe it won't be that bad this year." Spike suggested.
"Yeah, I've never been to the Gala before either." Twilight said.
"Well Mom says its always awful." Moonshine grunted. "And I'd rather spend the night in here. Give the tickets to the others will you, Twilight?" Moonshine asked, handing the tickets to Twilight before heading upstairs, "Where are you going?" Twilight called.
"To greet two pokemon and a dragon." Moonshine stated as she headed upstairs to her room.
Up in her room, Lycanroc, Rockruff and Toothless were napping when they all heard the door open. They opened their eyes and they saw Moonshine there, "Hi boys, miss me?" she teased. Rockuff barked happily and lunged at Moonshine's chest, nuzzling her hard, "Hahaha, hey..!" she laughed. Toothless and Lycanroc smiled, seeing their friend again.
Rockuff stopped nuzzling and Moonshine placed him on the ground, "You boys were good for Twilight, right?" The pokemon and dragon nodded and Moonshine smiled, "Good."
"Wanna go out and play?" Moonshine asked. Rockruff barked and wagged his tail. "Hehehe, alright. Come on." Moonshine, Lycanoc, Rockruff and Toothless headed outside and went out in a field outside of Ponyville. "Rockruff, Lycanroc, how about some training for you two?"
"Rockruff..!"
"Lycan." Lycanoc smiled.
"Alright." Moonshine stated. Lycanroc and Rockruff soon stood on either side of the field with Toothless and Moonshine standing to the side, "Alright. Lycanroc use Stone Edge!" Lycanoc howled and punched the ground, creating a line of large, glowing rocks that ran towards Rockruff. Rockruff barked and leaped into the air, stepping onto the Stone Edge and ramming Lycanroc, but Lycanroc blocked the attack and deflected Rockruff away. "Roooo...!" Rockruff landed on the ground. "Now Rockruff, use Rock Throw!" Rockruff barked, "Rockruff...!" and unleashed Rock Throw at Lycanroc. Lycanroc blocked the attack with his arms and he charged forth towards Rockruff. Rockruff growled and he charged Lycanroc as well. "Rooo...!" the two of them collided with each other and Rockruffs' collar glowed white and it unleashed a close range Rock Throw!
Lycanroc was sent skidding back a little but still has plenty of fight in him. Rockruff backed off and barked, "Ruff..!"
"Great, Rockruff!" Moonshine praised.
"Ruff...!" Rockruff then charged forth with a Bite attack ready to go, but Lycanoc moved to the side and dodged the attack before unleashing Rock Throw as well. Rockruff was struck and he was sent skidding back. "Roooo!"
"Rockruff, are you okay?"
Rockruff growled as he got back on his feet. "Rockruff..!"
"That's the spirit!" Moonshine exclaimed, "Now use Tackle!" Rockruff charged forth with his Tackle attack when suddenly... mud came out of nowhere and splattered onto Rockruffs' face. "Rooo!" Rockuff tripped and fell on the ground. "Rockuff! Hey, who did that?" Moonshine called out.
"Muudbraaaayyyy!"
"What the-?" Moonshine, Lycanroc and Toothless looked at the side and saw a small donkey like pokemon. "What the- What pokemon are you?" Moonshine pulled out the pokemon book and she flipped through the pages, "Aha, Mudbray, the Donkey Pokemon. A ground type. It has a stubborn, individualistic disposition. Eating dirt, making mud, and playing in the mire all form part of its daily routine. " The Mudbray was laughing at his little prank on Rockruff. "Mudbrayyy, Mud..."
"Mudbray, that was not funny, that was mean." Moonshine scolded.
"Lycanroc." Her Lycanroc agreed as Toothless helped Rockruff get the mud out of his eyes. Mudbray only laughed before it spit more mud, landing on Moonshine's face! "Hey!" she exclaimed. Lycanroc had enough and charged the little pokemon but Mudbray cried out and turned around, kicking Lycanroc twice, sending him flying back. "That was Double Kick!" Moonshine gasped.
Not good. Double Kick was a fighting type move, super effective against Lycanroc, a rock type!
Mudbray laughed again but Lycanroc recovered and growled, "Lycanroc, try Rock Throw!" Lycanroc howled and launched rocks at Mudbray which just stood there and took the attack head on. When the dust cleared, Lycanroc and Moonshine saw orange lights surrounding Mudbray, "What the-? What's that?" Moonshine asked herself. She looked at the Mudbray page once more and discovers, "Ability: Stamina, this pokemons' defense raises each time its attacked."
"Oh pony feathers!" Moonshine exclaimed. That meant the more attacked Lycanroc threw, the less damage it would do it Mudbray. Mudbray scrapped the ground before charging forth with its front hooves glowing red, "That's Rock Smash! Lycanroc, lookout!"
Lycanroc growled and leaped to the side to dodge the attack but Mudbray quickly changed direction and struck Lycanroc, "Mudbray!"
"Roooo!"
"Lycanroc!" Lycanroc crashed onto the ground with some catches on it while the Mudbray chuckled and began dancing around, "Mudbray, Mudbray, Mudbray~"
"Hmmm... you're a tough little pokemon, aren't ya..?" Moonshine thought before she grinned and took out a pokeball, "If that's the case, then I'm gonna catch you, Mudbray." Mudbray stopped dancing and stared at her in shock, "Mudbray!"
Lycanroc stood back up, "Lycan..." Mudbray recovered from its shock and actually smiled, "Mudbray...!" It charged Lycanroc once more with a Rock Smash attack. "Use Stone Edge!" Lycanoc howled and punched the ground using Stone Edge. Mudbray, using Rock Smash, used the move exactly what it was named for, smashing rocks! It smashed he Stone Edge! "Careful, here it comes!" Moonshine warned. Lycanroc nodded, "Lycanroc."
Mudbray smashed through the final rock, "Now Rock Throw!" Lycanroc howled and launched rocks, catching Mudbray off guard! "Mud!" the attack struck hard and Mudbray was sent skidding back. "That's the way!" Moonshine praised.
"Lycanroc." Lycanroc smiled. Mudbray got up and its Stamina kicked in once more, "Defense rose again!" Moonshine grunted. Lycanoc howled and charged straight in, "Lycanoc?" Moonshine called.
Lycanroc howled before its tail glowed and turned to steel! "What?! Iron Tail!" Moonshine gasped. Mudbray gasped as well as Lycanroc smashed Mudbray with Iron Tail. "Mudbrayyyyyy!" The super effective steel type attack, sent Mudbay flying into the air and it crashed onto the ground. "Mud...." it groaned and it glowed red which meant, "Iron Tail, lowered it defense!" Moonshine gasped. She took out the pokeball, "Now's my chance! Pokeball, go!" Moonshine called as she threw the pokeball at Mudbray. it bounced off of Mudbray and it turned into red energy before going into the pokeball. The pokeball landed on the ground before shaking three times and clicking. "Alright..! I caught Mudbray!" Moonshine cheered.
"Rockruff..!"
"Lycanroc!"
Moonshine then let Mudbray out, "Mudbray, come on out..!"
Mudbray came out with a smile, "Mudbray!"
"Mudbray, you're one tough cookie and its great you'll be joining us.." Moonshine smiled.
"Lycanroc." Lycanroc smiled at Mudbray, earning it respect and Rockuff came bounding over, now free of mud and nuzzled Mudbray. "Mudbray." Mudbray smiled.
Then, "Hey Moonshine!" The group turned and saw Twilight and the others coming towards them. "You okay? We heard some commotion." Applejack asked.
"I'm fine." Moonshine said.
"Hey whose the tiny donkey?" Rainbow asked, noticing Mudbray.
"This is Mudbray, my new pokemon." Moonshine smiled.
"You caught it?!" Twilight exclaimed, earning a nod from Moonshine, "And its' one tough cookie."
"Oh really...?" Applejack questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Mudbray!" Mudbray exclaimed before stomping its hoof. "I think that's a yes, Applejack." Moonshine stated.
Applejack looked at the tiny donkey which was a bit smaller than her, "I don't see it..." that annoyed Mudbray and it unleashed Rock Smash, on Applejack, sending her flying, "WAH!"
"Aj!" Rainbow exclaimed before flying after her and catching her. She brought her back down to the others, "Okay... I take that back." she stated, now convinced about Mudbray being a tough cookie.
"Anyway, Twilight says you don't wanna go to the Gala this year, darling." Rarity brought up.
"Yeah.. don't really see it as exciting..." Moonshine stated.
"But at least give it a try, this year, Moonshine." Applejack said. "It might be fun..." Moonshine sighed.
"Please...?" Twilight asked her best friends. Moonshine looked at her and she could see that she wasn't going to give in so... "Alright... I'll give it a try this year..." The girls cheered happily while Moonshine sweat-dropped.
"Looks like we're going to a gala in a few weeks, guys." Moonshine told her pokemon and Toothless. They all nodded at Moonshine while Mudbray chuckled.
Two weeks have passed and today, Moonshine and the Mane 6 were walking through the forest after her mother wanted the ponies help settle a situation in the Kingdom of Abyssinia. “Well we saved Equestria once again.” Twilight said.
“Yep, cause we’re the best.” Rainbow gloated.
“And the good news is this time they aren’t going to prosecute.” Applejack added.
“The Kingdom of Abyssinia is strangely fabulous.” Rarity said. Then we heard some soothing sounds, “Was that a fwoosh?” Twilight asked.
“I don;t remember there being any fwosohsing sounds around here.” Rarity said. Then we heard some gurgle too. “And gurgles! Those are definitely gurgles!”
Rockruff barked and tracked the sounds, "Rockruff, wait up!" Moonshine called as she and the girls followed the Puppy Pokemon. Then they all came across a large lake with a waterfall filling it with water. A hot spring. And what is surely new!” Applejack exclaimed.
Pinkie gasped, “It looks so pretty.”
Rainbow was confused, on the other hand, “Huh? I just flew pass here last week . I know this spring wasn’t here.” Fluttershy was talking to some small creatures. “Oh thank you Mr. Gossamer. Mr. Gossamer says these hot springs have just appeared in a couple days, apparently they caused quite a commotion when they appeared.”
“There are a number of underwater rivers running through here I suppose geothermal pressure cause one of them to erupt.” Twilight said, examining the lake. She stuck her hoof into the water. “Hmm.. it’s not quite as hot as I thought.”
Then Pinkie pushed her into the water. “Surprise!”
Ker-Splash!
“Pinkie Pie!” Twilight exclaimed, soaking wet. “Why would you do that?!”
“Comedy is a surprise! So it was funny”
“Well it’s not funny.”
“Actually it kinda was.” Rainbow chuckled.
Pinkie I’m very upset-at least I would be if this wasn't so relaxing like a giant hot tub.”
Pinkie and the other girls went into the water. “It’s like a natural spa. This water is lovely!" Rarity described.
Applejack came up, “Maybe we should take some of it home. I bet my apples would really take to this water.”
“I guess we deserve a reward after our adventure, don’t we?” Twilight asked, soaking herself in the lake too.
"Moonshine, come on in." Twilight called. Moonshine nodded and was about to come in but, Lycanroc and Mudbray blocked her, "Lycanroc..."
"Mudbray.."
"Lycanroc, Mudbray, what is it?" Moonshine asked, confused. She noticed Toothless growling at the water for some reason while Rockruff stayed clear of it. Lycanroc, Mudbray and Rockruff were understandably, not fans of water because rock and ground type pokemon are weak to water-type attacks, but the fact that Toothless was growling at the water, made Moonshine think that something else was going on. Toothless usually loves water, but with his aggressive attitude, Moonshine knew something was wrong.. she just didn't know what.
That Night
The girls were sleeping in their beds, mumbling in their sleep.
“All the books… all the knowledge.” Twilight mumbled.
“The best apples in Equestria.” Applejack said.
My friends.. I’ll keep you safe…” Fluttershy stated.
“Flawless. NO one finer.” Rarity added.
“I feel the need… the need for speed…” Rainbow smiled.
“Heh, hehe, ha, ha, ha.” Pinkie laughed.
Unknown by any of them, a shadow creeped into their rooms and into their chests and they grunted a little before they went back to sleep. Two pairs of eyes appeared in the shadows. “Perfect…” the figure hissed.
The Next Morning
Spike and Moonshine woke up and went downstairs. "Morning Spike." Moonshine greeted.
"Morning Moonshine." Spike greeted. The pair went into the library but they noticed that Twilight wasn't there..." Where's Twilight?" Moonshine asked.
"Huh? This is weird." Spike said, scratching his head. The pair then went outside and ran into Applebloom. “Applebloom, have you seen Twilight?” Spike asked. “She left before breakfast and-”
Suddenly..
BOOM!
“AHAHAHA!” There was a loud boom and sonic rainbow rings were seen in the sky. “What the heck?!” Moonshine exclaimed. exclaimed.
“Out of my way! I’m on important business here.” Huh? What the-? Applejack? That when the three of them turned and saw Applejack but something was different. Her eyes were red instead of green and she was pushing ponies out of her way. “What’s wrong with Applejack?” Moonshine asked Applebloom.
“I don’t know. She’s been acting like that ever since this morning.” Applebloom replied. Then she saw the cart of spilled apples. “What in the Gold Durned Ding Dang is this?!” she yelled.
“One of those rainbooms knocked over the cart. I’m okay through.” Applebloom said.
“I ain't worried about you!” Applejack exclaimed. Moonshine gasped, "Applejack, don't you care about your sister?"
“I’m more worried about my apples do you know how many sales I’ve lost!” Jack stepped in front of Applebloom. “Farm chick, calm down. Don’t yell at the tiny brat.”
“She’s my apprentice, My worst apprentice ever!” Applejack declared.
“I’m not your apprentice. I’m your family.” Applebloom said.
“There’s no room for family in business.” Applejack said as she walked off.
“Okay that was very wrong.” Moonshine said. “Applejack always cares about her family but now she’s acting rude and uncaring.”
“What’s gotten into her?” Spike asked.
“I don’t know.” Applebloom said. Then a loud boom was heard and everyone turned towards the Golden Oak Library.
“Attention everypony in Ponyville.” Twilight’s voice boomed across the town. The sky turned pink with white lightning bolts. “I, Twilight Sparkle have appointed myself as Empress of Ponyville. As the most intelligent pony in this town, or any other it is the only logical course of action. More announcements will follow about the new order but for now know I promise and harsh but fair rule!”
“We have to check on the others.” Spike said.
“Applejack is gonna fire me for this.” Applebloom said.
“Don’t worry Applebloom, we’ll get her back to normal.” Moonshine reassured.
“How dare she!” We turned and saw Rarity wearing a purple cloak and a silver mask over her eyes.
“Rarity, what happened to you?” Moonshine asked. “Why are you wearing a mask? And a purple cloak?”
“The arrogance of that pony, thinking she can rule Ponyville. When it should be me there’s no one finer than me.” Rarity growled. Spike approached her. “Um.. what’s with the mask?”
“I couldn’t get my eyeliner perfect . I can’t have ponies seeing this face with any kind of flaw on it!” Then she walked away. “Sure that’s not overreacting at all.” Spike deadpanned.
“Overreacting is Twilight thinking that her library fixation and that five year old hairstyle is in anyway entitled her to rule these ponies. I will correct her thinking as soon as I find the right outfit to do so.” Rarity declared and she walked away.
“Let’s find the others.” Spike suggested.
“Right.” Moonshine said and the three began running off, Moonshine whistled and Lycanroc, Rockruff, Mudbray and Toothless came by her side.
“I’ll get the crusaders.” Applebloom said.
Soon they all met up at the Crusaders' Clubhouse, “So none of us could find Fluttershy or Pinkie Pie?” Sweetie Belle asked.
"No, and the others are acting totally different then how they usually act." Moonshine stated, “But what’s wrong with them? They were fine yesterday even when we took a break at these new hot springs.” I said.
“New?” Scootaloo said.
“Hot.” Sweetie added.
“Springs?” Applebloom added.
Moonshine blinked, feeling a bit stupid. “... When you put it like that it does sound kinda obvious.” she said bashfully.
“Something in that water must have changed them.” Spike said.
“If there was something in that water that would explain why Lycanroc and the others kept pushing me away from the water and not wanting me to get in there." Moonshine realized, "They must have sensed the evil in the water before anypony else did.
“But how do we change them back?” Applebloom asked and Spike took out a letter. “I don’t know but there’s one pony who will. Princess Celestia!”
Canterlot
Celestia read the note Spike sent her. “Something has turn Twilight Sparkle and her friends to their darker sides.”
“What kind of magic could do that sister?” Luna asked.
“Spike says that they have their theories but I must send someone to investigate and resolve this.. I must send… you Luna.”
“Me? Sister is that wise? My history is it’s own darkness.” Luna reminded.
“Yes, whatever has happened here you will have your personal experience. Tragic it maybe but I couldn’t think of anypony better for this than you.” Celestia reassured.
“I see your point.” Luna spread her wings and flew off. “I will get to Ponyville as fast as I can.”
“Good luck, sister.” Celestia said.
Back at the clubhouse, the Crusaders, Spike, Moonshine and the others were discussing the problem, “I think Twi is the immediate threat!” Scootaloo said.
“Really Rarity seems pretty mad at me.” Sweetie said.
“No I think the worst will be either Pinkie or Fluttershy.” Sweetie Belle said.
“And exactly what evil can Pinkie do?” Spike asked. Suddenly the tree started to shake. “Huh? What the-?” They all ran outside to see Applejack bucking the tree. “Get out, you brats!” she called.
“Yikes.” Spike said. “Let’s get out of here!” We all ran out of the treehouse with Applejack chasing them, “Gone from my treehouse and my farm! Y'all are going to pay your debt off. You’ll be indented until you’re in dentures!”
“Umm… we better leave.” Moonshine said. They all dashed out of the treehouse and through the orchard with Applejack chasing us. “She’s gone nuts!” Spike cried.
“I don’t remember signing a contract!” Scootaloo cried.
“It’s an implied oral agreement.” Applejack replied.
“Is it just me or is she making less and less sense?” Spike asked. Suddenly, blue smoke clouds began to roll in. “What’s with the clouds?” Scootaloo asked.
“Don’t care, Applejack’s getting faster. Hoof it!” Applebloom cried.
“No matter how foggy it is, I know these acres like the back of my hoof. No one can hide from me?” Applejack gloated. Suddenly, Applejack saw a silhouette in the fog. “I’m not hiding!” a voice said and revealed to be..... Luna! “Princess Luna hides from no one!” Applejack gulped at the sight of her. “... You know maybe we can call it even.”
Applejack tried to run away but Luna grabbed her in her magic, “No, I think we need to have a discussion.” She brought Applejack close to her, “I sense dark magic within you Applejack and it is clouding your vision.”
“What they hay are you talking about?” Applejack exclaimed. “I’m seeing things clearly! Like your her on my property. You stay much longer maybe I should charge you rent or an admission fee.”
“What’s wrong with my sister. This isn’t like her.” Applebloom said to Luna. “I cannot tell at least not yet. There is definitely something wrong. Powerful magic. But it’s unfocused. It’s the cause of your sisters’ personality. It’s warping her nature and disorienting her like a flawed mirror. Perhaps I can extract it.” But before Luna could, Applejack broke free from her magic!
“Whatever magic the water placed on them, it’s making her more powerful. The Applejack I know wouldn’t be able to shatter my magic.” Luna said, looking down on Applejack.
“I’m not the Applejack you know. I’m better.” Applejack hissed and she turned and ran away. “She’s getting away.” Applebloom cried.
“Let her go.” Luna said. “Anyway, I couldn’t hold her anyway. Now tell me how all this happened leave out no detail.”
“We were all walking through a forest near Ponyville where we came across these new hot springs. The girls took a dip but Toothless and the others didn't let me in. The next morning they were like this.” Moonshine explained.
“Applejack started being greedy and crazy!” Applebloom said.
“Twilight said she was the Empress of Ponyville.” Sweetie added.
“Rarity is focus on perfection.” Moonshine said. “We have no word about Flutters and Pinkie and Rainbow Dash-” Scootaloo started.
BOOM!
Another sonic rainboom was heard behind them. “... Well that.”
“Whatever magic was in those springs had corrupted your friends and I may not be able to change them back. I tried with Applejack and you all saw what happened. We need a different plan.” Luna said.
“Hahaha! You can try!” a familiar voice came and we turned and saw a shadow pony standing there chuckling. The CMC’s hid behind Moonshine and Luna in fear. Luna and Moonshine growled, "You again! You're the pony who invaded my nieces dream!" Luna exclaimed.
"Yes... and I see you've watched my latest plan unfold." the shadow pony smirked.
"Who are you?" Spike questioned. The shadow pony chuckled, "I'm not gonna let you find that out that easily."
“Wait… you used your dark magic on the water and turned Twilight and the others to their darker selves didn’t you, Void?” Moonshine guessed.
The shadow pony chuckled, “Haha, you’re very smart, Moonshine. Though I expected nothing more from Celestia's daughter.”
"How do you know about me?" Moonshine chuckled.
"Haha... I've been watching you, Moonshine and that's all you need to know. Now with them on my side, there will be nothing you can do to stop me!”
“You won’t get away with this, creep!” Spike exclaimed.
“Yeah, we’re gonna stop you.” Applebloom added. "... Somehow..." The shadow pony chuckled, "You may try.." he hissed before he disappeared into the shadows.
“Applebloom, you and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders will go into the Everfree Forest and find Zecora. Where my magic had failed, perhaps her knowledge in potions will help.” Luna suggested.
“Cutie Mark Crusaders are on their way!” Applebloom said.
“Take Toothless with you, girls. Who knows what is in that forest.” Moonshine suggested.
“Right. Come on Toothless.” Applebloom said. Toothless purred and went with the Crusaders as they went off into the Everfree forest.
In the forest the Crusaders and Toothless were walking until they were confronted by an army of animals and Fluttershy who was wrapped in a green vine with red flowers on it. “What do we have here… INTRUDERS!” she cried.
Yesterday
Twilight was going through some books in Sarah’s Castle. “No, No NO! It’s not enough!” She sat herself at a table. “All these books and all this knowledge and I can’t learn fast enough. I need more! Knowledge is precious and I need much of it if I’m going to lead wisely.” She walked out on the balcony, overlooking Ponyville. “I know I’m the smartest pony her already. I need to be the smartest pony ever. So I can rule these poor, uneducated, uniformed ponies to show them the many errors they’ve made… my ponies.”
“Wait my ponies won’t need to think, will they? I’ll do the thinking for them, making sure they make the right choices.” Twilight added. “And if they don’t need to think they can spare a little bit of their brain power, can they?” She went back into the library where on a black chalkboard had a picture of a mind helmet. “Why they’ll hardly even miss it. And then I’ll be the smartest ruler… smartest pony in Equestria!” Having finished her machine she went outside and found two stallions talking. She placed the helmet on one of them.
F-zap.
And she did to two more ponies. “I can feel my I.Q increasing but there is still more intellect out there to confiscate.” Twilight hissed as she walked off.
Now
Toothless was carrying the Crusaders on his back as they were being chased by Fluttershys' animal army. "Okay, I take it back, Fluttershy can be a threat!" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"Less talking! Toothless, more flying!" Applebloom cried and Toothless flew faster through the forest.
Now back in Ponyville
Ponies were in the streets and there were purple present boxes on the ground. “What are all these present doing here?” a pony asked. Suddenly, the box exploded with this stuff shooting out of them. Everypony screamed and ran for cover. Cheerlie called them over to a theater. “Everypony in here!” Everypony rushed in and panted in relief.
Suddenly the lights went out and Pinkie Pie came on stage. She was wearing blue and purple clothing with clown make up on her face. “Welcome back my friends, to a show that never ends. Come inside.” she hissed. “Showtime!”
She came out on stage wearing a purple clown costume and makeup. “Hey everypony welcome to my one pony show. Don't try to leave and even if you could. I locked the door and I put glue on your seats.” she said. “What a good looking captive audience we have tonight. I just hope you love it. I’m Pinkie Pie.” Then she started to do some stand up comedy that was, to the crowds’ eyes, horrible.
Meanwhile, Rarity was running through the streets. “Twilight Sparkle cannot be allowed to rule Ponyville why her fashion choices alone disqualify her as a leader and -Gasp! What? This cannot stand!” she in front of a shoulder pads store.”Shoulder pads?! Those atrocities will never come back into style. Not if I have anything to say about it. She blasted the store, sending the glass flying. “What’s next High Waist? Bell Bottoms? Are we savages?!
“Luna, she’s over here!” Spike called. Rarity looked at me with a face of fury. “Spike, are you responsible for this fashion crime?” she asked. She was about to blast Spike when Luna came in and protected him with her magic. “I’ve been around for a thousand years. Fashion is cyclical.”
“Another reason I need to be in charge!” Rarity said. Moonshine and her pokemon came up, "Rarity stop! This isn't you!" she called, trying to snap her back but it was no use. “I know who I am. A pony who fights any crime to fashion, which includes you!” Rarity fried a blast of magic at them but Luna countered with her shield. “You and your sister will be in the Donation bun, Luna.”
“That’s Princess Luna.” Luna said
Meanwhile, Toothless arrived at Zecora’s and he flew into the hut, shutting the door with his tail and shocking Zecora, who wasn't pleased with the sudden entrance. “Have you gone mad!” Zecora exclaimed upset. Sweetie closed the door quickly, “Zecora, some strange water made our friends turn evil and we need your help to change them back.
“Also Fluttershy is leading an army of animals against us because Snowflake accidently stepped on her bunny friend.” Applebloom added.
“Your story is quite troubling and the chaos seems to be doubling. We must return ourselves to town and investigate how everything went down.” Zecora said.
“We’ll have to get past Fluttershy’s animal army first.” Carrie whimpered.
“Open the door and we will escape. We four.” Zecora said. Applebloom opened the door and the animals came in, “That’s a lot of angry foes, complete with an intimidating pose.” Toothless roared at them. Then Zecora walked in, “Zeocra, are you protecting these criminals? They harmed one of my creatures.” Fluttershy growled.
“Since when are the animals of the forest exclusively your goods? Now Applebloom-!” Zeocra called. Applebloom tossed some blue dust on the ground and made a large cloud of dust and it allowed them to escape.
Back in Ponyville, the fight between Evil Rarity and Princess Luna continued. The fighting wrecked the theaters! Rarity struck Luna down on the ground, "Auntie!" Moonshine cried out before Mudbray charged in with Double Kick and kicked Rarity away from Luna. "Agh, you horrid donkey!" Rarity growled.
"Mudbray...!" Mudbray cried before striking her again with Double Kick. That’s when the Crusaders and Toothless came up to us with Zecora “We got Zecora!” Applebloom called.
“Thank goodness. At least something was not broken on our way.” Luna said.
“Other than the theater. Man, I had tickets to see that Celestia Rap Musical next week, too.” Spike said.
“Now is not the time, Spike.” Moonshine deadpanned.
“Zecora do you have any insight into how we can rectify this situation?” Luna asked.
“I must learn what occurred
"Yes, there was this shadow pony that Luna and I encountered before. He used his dark magic to infect the water which then affected my friends." Moonshine said. "Problem is, we don't know how to change them back."
Suddenly, Twilight’s voice was heard again. “There shall be no fighting in my kingdom! Stop this disturbance! Stop this fighting!” I think we all shuddered at that announcement except for Rarity, who ran off towards the castle. “I’ve suffered your arrogance long enough, Sparkle. You are not fit to rule, Rarity is!”
Suddenly, we all heard.. Drums. “Where are those drums coming from?” Spike asked. Moonshine flew into the air and she could see Fluttershy and an army of animals outside of Ponyville. "Oh no! Fluttershy and her animal army are about to enter Ponyville!"
“WHAT?!” Spike and Luna exclaimed.
“Believe it she chased us through the Everfree with those critters.” Appleebloom sad. “We’ve gotta change them back to normal!” Suddenly, Pinkie appeared holding a water balloon in her hooves. “Pinkie Pie?!” Kaede exclaimed.
“Splash Splash, let’s make a bash!” Pinkie said and she started throwing the balloons. Lucario used it’s aura to scan the balloons “Watch it they have the same water that turned them evil!” Applebloom exclaimed.
“Run!” We all ran away while dodging the evil water balloons. “Run! Flee! Scram!” Some of the water balloons hit some of the ponies and they turned evil as well. “Here's a little for you and for you!” Pinkie said.
Scootaloo ducked and avoid a water balloon but.. "Princess Luna...!" The balloon struck Luna in the face!
“Luna got hit!” Moonshine exclaimed in horror! Luna’s eyes suddenly turned red and her eye pupils were slits and she turned into… “Nightmare Moon has returned!” Nightmare Moon bellowed. “AHAHAHAH!” Everyone stared in horror at the mare of darkness. “And just when things couldn’t get any worse.” Applebloom whimpered. “Free again! No longer am I trapped in that pathetic shell of Luna.” Nightmare Moon said.
“Oooh, this has gone much better than I thought it would.” Pinkie hissed. “What are you waiting for? You’re Nightmare Moon Evilly awesome and feared by many. Start making the world burn!”
Nightmare Moon turned to Pinkie. “You…”
“Oops.” Pinkie said.
Nightmare Moon started firing at Pinkie. “My attempt to introduce chaos has returned in an unpredictable way. How ironic!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“My reign will be absolute and orderly and dark! There is no room for brightness in it!” Nightmare Moon declared.
“Watch out!” Moonshine cried and we scattered to dodged the blasts. “No worries. I'm clearly not that bright!” Pinkie cried out. Zecora and the rest of them ran away. “Under the cart! That’s where we’ll start!” Zecora and Spike hid underneath a cart while the rest of us watched. “Things are going from worse to worser!” Applebloom whimpered.
“Tell me about it.” Moonshine stated.
“From six bad ponies to seven. We’re heading in the wrong direction.” Sweetie Belle added. “Plus Fluttershy’s animal army.” Pinkie kept dodging Nightmare Moon’s blasts. “Stay still so I can incinerate you!”
“I’m crazy-” Pinkie said then she zipped and hid behind a barrel, “But not that crazy.”
“Maybe you need glasses.” Pinkie said, holding a paper with different sized letters like the kind you look at when you go to the eye doctor. “Try reading the third line down.” Nightmare Moon kept blasting. “How do I keep missing?”
“Because it's funny.” Pinkie said. Finally, Nightmare Moon blasted Pinkie and she crashed to the ground, “Pinkie!” Sweetie Belle cried.
“Ooof, that’s not funny. How?" Pinkie groaned.
“I aimed from where you weren’t!” Nightmare Moon said. “That’s one less menace In my way. Now to take care of the three in the library.” and Nightmare Moon flew off. We raced over to Pinkie just as Zecora and Spike came out. “We got it!” Spike declared.
“The Bellwether dust has turned blue. We can return them to their forms true.” Zecora said. Zecora came over and rubbed the blue water on Pinkie Pie. “Is she alright?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Pinkie Pie isn’t hurt, she will be alright , especially if the cure removes all her spite.” Zecora said as she rubbed Pinkie’s head with the cure. Pinkie came to and her eyes were normal again. “W-What happened?”
“That hot springs you and the other bathed in turned you evil.” Moonshine stated. “It was part of a shadow ponys' plot.”
“It was horrible. It was like I wasn't in control and not in the good way. Every thought that crossed my mind became action. There was no filter. Horrible. Horrible!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Twilight and Rarity are trying to take over Equestria. Applejack has become an apple baron. Fluttershy is the Lady of Flies and Rainbow-”
BOOM!
We saw Rainbow smacking about Sonic Rainboom. “And Rainbow Dash is making sonic rainboom and causing destruction!” Spike finished.
“But now we know how to make the cure. We can return them to their forms most pure.” Zecora said.
“Well I don’t know why the others are, but I’m pretty sure where my sister will be.” Applebloom said.
“Where?” Moonshine asked.
“This way.” Applebloom lead us to a telegraph shop and we could hear her arguing with another pony, “Don't they know how to read your dots n’ dashes or do you not know how to type? I’m trying to take over Appaloosa hostile-like and make it a subsidiary of Sweet Apple Acres and I can’t do that if you ain’t doing this right!” Applejack yelled.
“I’ve got it. I’ve got it. They’re responding now.” the telegraph pony replied. “They say your terms are insane. You’re trying to crash the mark.”
“You mean market?!”
“No they said ‘Mark’ and nothing else. Odd.”
Applejack came out angry, “Assuming this ain't operator error and that’s a big assumption, Maybe -What?”
Applejack saw Applebloom, “My own flesh and blood! Bringing down my trading down from the inside! I’d be proud if I weren’t so angry! And chased after her through the streets on Ponyville. She led Applejack right towards Lycanroc who threw the water balloon and she was soaking wet… and back to normal. “Woah.. did I have too much cider? What’s going on here?”. It was so weird taking care of the apples.It became all I cared about. Nothing but apple, apples, apples.
“Your love of the farm got twisted and taken over by a bad shadow pony. More on that later. But you’re back on our side now.” I smiled. Then we started hearing drums… What?
“What’s with the drums?” Applejack asked.
“Those are Fluttershy’s drums of war! If we don’t stop her, then we’re done for!” Spike exclaimed. We could see the animal army from Ponyville. “We’re surrounded by Fluttershy’s adorably cute animal army!” Sweetie said.
“She's become an expansionist power.” Scootaloo said.
“Worse, those animals will never let us through their lines to cure Fluttershy.” Applebloom sad.
“No they won’t! But I know who can get to her. Rainbow Dash.” Applejack said.
“But she's still evil.” Scootlaoo reminded. “She loves showing off so much that the water twisted her love too!”
“Yes but listening to you and Pinkie. I think I can use her evilness against her.” Applejack said.
Soon, the Cursaders set up a target on a tree branch and soon Rainbow Dash was seen flying in. She was aiming for the target and when she hit it, the cure soaked her and she was back to normal, “Eh, I”m soaked and why was I so concerned about showing off?”
“No time, Rainbow." Moonshine said. "Fluttershy is about to invade Ponyville with an army of animals."
“I got this.” Rainbow took a few baskets of the cure and put it into the clouds and it rained the cure of Flutters, making her normal once more. Thank goodness. “My goodness. What have I done. I’m so embarrassed.”
“The antidote rain is soaking the whole town.” Scootaloo said.
“Anypony who Pinkie might have turned bad now be back to normal as well as our friends.” Sweetie Belle said. Suddenly, a loud boom was heard and we saw the library covered in a large amount of magic. “Oh no! The Library!” Applebloom exclaimed.
“The plan we tried didn’t account for those inside.” Zeocra said.
Moonshine spread her wings and she flew off towards the library, "Moonshine!" Spike exclaimed. "NO!"
Inside the library, Twilight and Rarity were arguing with one another, “I offer the world order, Rarity. What can you possibly offer?” Twilight exclaimed.
“Style! Your world will be dull, gray and uniform where fashion and color should be.” Rarity said.
“I will fashion a new world, one that had evolved past such superficial concerns and yes there will be uniforms!” Twilight growled. Both of the mares horns were lit. “You monster!” Rarity stated.
Suddenly, Nightmare Moon burst through the ground, “No do I have your attention?” she asked, “You’ve been on the dark side of life for mere days but I had a thousands years and I have learned some things in that time. Like to be patient and wait to let your enemies tire themselves out. And that Equestria is a big place. And so its big enough for all of us. We could fight each other that way you have been, do some damage, only one of us surviving weakened… and capable of being defeated by my sister.
So I propose we agree or disagree. Let’s divided into thirds. I’ll take Canterlot so I can deal with my sister.”
“Give me Manhattan and Ponies East. The coast is the place for me, where I can really show off my style.” Rarity said.
“That gives me Ponyville and the countryside. Fine by me. These simple folk in flyover country will benefit most from my leadership.” Twilight said.
“What?!” Nightmare Moon growled. “Why would we ever listen to you?”
“Because I’m more powerful than either of you and I can offer you everything you want.” Twilight said. Suddenly, Moonshine burst into the library, "Not on my watch!" she exclaimed.
The three growled at the sight of her, "What do you want?!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed. Moonshine's Element of Hope glowed brightly, "I'm getting my family back!" Moonshine exclaimed and her Element of Hope sent out a rainbow beam at the three and created a large explosion inside the library. Just then, Spike and the others came in and found Luna, Twilight and Rarity... all back to normal. "Twilight..!" Spike exclaimed as he hugged Twilight.
"Auntie!" Moonshine raced over and hugged her aunt who hugged her back. "Thank you, Moonshine."
"What? But I though of everything. Everything! Every-- Oh no! What have I done!" Twilight gasped.
"Fortunately, you got smarter not funnier. And comedy is surprise." Pinkie Pie reassured. Twilight looked very ashamed as Luna came over to her, "I thought I was so intelligent and so full of myself. I thought I deserved to rule."
"Your confidence and intelligence are your strengths, Twilight that the shadow pony twisted." Luna stated.
"We all know how you're feeling, Twilight." Rainbow said. "We were all turned into the worst versions of ourselves."
"Our best qualities become our sinister assets." Luna continued, "Comfort yourself knowing that it was just the shadow pony that turned you and not your own jealousy and arrogance. That is very hard to live with.
“Now my question is are you still super smart.” Spike said and he opened the door, Smart enough to returned everyponys’ intelligence?”
Twilight nodded and placed a high tech helmet on her head, “Even though I never expected to use it, I was clever enough to build this with a reserve switch.” she liked it and the helmet lit up and everypony’s intelligence was returned.
Soon, Twilight and the others fixed what they did wrong in Ponyville. “I think that’s the last of it. Everything as normal as we can make it..” Sootlaloo said.
“Do you wonder what it would have been like if we would have turned evil? We have still have been friends?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Oh there, would have been a place for all of you in my kingdom.” Applebloom said.
Mayor Mare was talking with Twilight. “We now you all weren't acting of your own accord. Those waters and that shadow pony affected you. And you’ve fixed everything you could.”
“No we still have one more thing.” Twilight said.
Then they all went back to the hot springs with Zecora and Luna. “I can feel the dark magic coming from these waters. Its Effervescent.”
“I feel the darkness too. Evil in these waters too.” Zecora said. Equestria has been home to all sorts of magic spells. I fear those energies may have corrupted these walls. A type of mystical pollution, but I have a solution.”
She put her long spear in the water, “The proper potion will remove all this negative emotion. The right spell and all will be well and this cursed spring will no longer be a thing.” the water glowed for a moment before it stopped.
“Did that do it?” Rarity asked. Twilight looked at it and Pinkie pushed her in.
Ker-Splash!
“Seriously! Again?!” Twilight said annoyed.
“How are you feeling? Evil?” Spike asked. Twilight shook her head and then used her magic to pull Pinkie in. “Did you do that because you’re evil?” Spike asked.
“No I did it because it as funny.” Twilight smirked.
“I believe I will take my leave of you. You’ve all been through so much, but I believe your friendship will carry you through.” Luna said. “A friendship which fortunately wasn’t disturbed by the evil water.”
“Fortunately Princess? Why do you say that?” Flutters asked.
“Because if you six had stayed evil and worked together.” Luna spread her wings and flew into the air. “I have no doubt you’d have been unstoppable.” she finished as she went back to Canterlot.
"So what's about this Shadow Pony, Moonshine?" Applejack asked. Twilight and Moonshine looked at each other, "Girls.... we have a new threat to Equestria..." Twilight said to the girls. "The Shadow Pony wants to do something with Moonshine that we don't know yet."
"Well is this creep wants to get her, he'll have to get passed us first!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Yeah!" the girls cheered.
Today, Moonshine and her pokemon were walking through Ponyville together. "So what do you guys wanna do today?" Moonshine asked them.
"Mudbray..!"
"Lycanroc..."
"Rockruff...!"
Toothles just warbled, wondering about what to do now. Then, Moonshine noticed some ponies gathering around, "What's going on?" Moonshine and her pokemon went over and they spotted Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow. "What's going on?" Moonshine asked.
"There's this new unicorn in town named Trixie." Applejack stated.
Many different ponies were walking there, some talking about the show that was about to happen. They gathered around the cart Trixie had been pulling, before her voice sounded across the crowd. "Come one, come all, and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful TRIXIE!" The cart suddenly shot open and morphed into a full stage. A puff of smoke exploded and Trixie appeared, wearing her purple star patterned hat and cape. “Behold Trixie's amazing tricks to inspire everypony here! Watch in awe!" the blue unicorn exclaimed as she lifted her hooves into the air, "as the great and powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by ponies' eyes!" Seconds later, fireworks went off around her, bringing most of the crowd into amazement.
"My, my, my," Rarity said, causing the four to glance at her. "What boasting."
"Come on! No pony is as magical as Moonshine-" Spike would have continued, but Twilight covered his mouth.
"Nothin at all," Applejack growled, causing them to now notice she was there too. "Except when somepony goes showing it off like a school filly with fancy new ribbons."
"Exactly," Rarity nodded, "its one thing to use magic to entertain ponies, but she's just looking for attention."
Trixie heard this and glared at the audience. "Well, well, well, it seems we have some neigh-sayers in the audience. Who is so ignorant to challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie?! Do they not know that they are in the presence of the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria?!”
"Oh please," Rainbow Dash barked, flying out of the audience. "What makes you think you're so awesome anyways?"
Trixie huffed at this. "Only the Great and Powerful Trixie has the magic to vanquish the dreaded...Ursa Major!" In that second, fireworks went off and formed the form of a giant bear.
From the audience, two young school ponies named Snips and Snails were in awe. "No way," Snails gasped.
"When all hope was lost..." Trixie explained as she began swaying her hooves around, "and the ponies of Hoofington had no one to turn to. But the Great and Powerful Trixie stepped in and with her awesome magic...she vanquished the Ursa Major and sent it back to its cave deep within the Everfree Forest!
Don't believe the Great and Powerful Trixie? Well then, I hereby challenge you, Ponyvillians. Anything you can do, I can do better. Any takers? Anyone? Hmm? Or is Trixie destined to be the greatest equine who has ever lived!?" Trixie declared and Spike uncovered his mouth, "Please! Moonshine! She's unbearable! Ya gotta show her! Ya just gotta!"
"There's no way I'm going to use my magic now, Spike. Especially since—" Moonshine started but then Trixie pointed to her, "Hmm, how about you? " Moonshine gulped a little.
"Well, how about it? Hm? Is there anything you can do that the Great and Powerful Trixie can't?" Trixie challenged.
"Um..." Moonshine replied.
"Well little hayseed?" Trixie asked then Lycanroc came in front of Moonshine and growled at Trixie, "Lycanroc...!" Trixie was shocked seeing the pokemon. "What the- What is that?!" she exclaimed.
"That's Moonshines' Midnight form Lycanroc. A tough wolf pokemon." Spike smirked.
Trixie, on the other hand, was no amused, "Hmph.. looks weak." Lycanroc growled and howled before launching Stone Edge towards Trixie who stepped to the side and dodged it, "Woah!" The crowd gasped in awe while Applejack smirked, "Is it weak now, missy?" she smirked.
"Lycan..." Then Mudbray, Rockruff and Toothless came to his side.
"This that's Mudbray, Rockruff and Toothless, the Night Fury." Spike added.
"What? How can a unicorn like you have such creatures?" Trixie asked.
"She's not a unicorn!" Rainbow exclaimed. "She's an alicorn! The daughter of Princess Celestia, to be exact." the crowd gasped and Trixie's eyes widened in shock while Moonshine blushed.
"Hmph, well if you think you're so great then how about this... a Magic Duel.. you and me!"
"What?!" Moonshine gasped.
"Whoever wins is considered the most powerful pony in all of Equstria and the loser... gets exiled from Ponyville!" Trixie challenged. "Take it unless your scared." Lycanroc growled and decided to unleash a like Rock Throw at Trixie, "Gah!"
Rainbow and the crowd laughed at her and Trixie turned red with anger. "Fine then! We duel at noon! Be ready to lose, alicorn...!" Trixie turned away while Moonshine still gulped nervously.
At the library, Moonshine was pacing back and forth,"I-I can't go up against Trixie.. I-I don't know what I'll do..!" she said in a panic. "I-I'll get exiled from Ponyville for sure. Ooooh...!"
"Moonshine, stop panicking." Twilight said as she came over to her, "You can beat Trixie. I know you can."
"H-How...?" Moonshine asked.
"Just show her your special talent in magic." Twilight smiled. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. Your magic is a part of who you are and its okay to show it off, especially when you're standing up to your friends."
Moonshine still looked nervous, but Rockruff and Mudbray nuzzled her happily and smiled. "We all believe in you Moonshine. You can do this.." Rainbow added with a smile. "You're Princess Celestia's daughter and Princess Luna's niece, of course you can do this."
"Well... gulp... if you say so.. I-I'll do it.." Moonshine stated.
Soon, the magic duel between Moonshine and Trixie was about to begin. Moonshine came out of the crowd and saw Trixie smirking at her from her stage. She gulped nervously and her stomach gurgled a little from nervousness. "You'll be fine, sugarcube...." Applejack smiled at her.
Moonshine gulped and she got onto the stage. "Prepare to lose, Alicorn..!" Trixie said before she sent a beam of magic into the air, making fireworks.
Moonshine took a deep breath and she blasted a beam of magic which turned into a small phoenix which cried out majestically and flew above the crowd. "Ooooh...." the crowd said in awe at the sight. Trixie was jaw dropped at the sight but shook it off. "Hmph, let's see how you handle this..." Trixie blasted the ground and she created a small podium out of rocks.
Moonshine also blasted the ground and she created a wolf out of the her magic along with some grass and rocks. "Woah...!" Twiight gasped in awe.
Trixie growled at Moonshine, "Alright... time for the big guns..." Trixie exclaimed before she blasted the ground in front of Moonshine and vines came out of it, tying around her. "Woah! "Gah!"
"Hey, that's cheating Trixie!" Twilight growled.
"Hahaha... nopony can match the Great and Powerful Trixie..!" Trixie exclaimed. Moonshine grunted in pain as the vines squeezed her tighter, "Ugh... Gah..." she grunted.
"Trixie, enough!" Rainbow exclaimed, but Toothless beat her to it and blasted Trixie with his plasma blast, sending her flying back and stopping the vines spell. Rockruff and Lycanroc used Bite and slashed the vines, freeing Moonshine. Mudbray cried out before he charged Trixie and used Double Kick, kicking her in the face. "Gah! Why you little..." Trixie growled but Lycanroc howled before he used Stone Edge on her which sent her flying all the way out of town.
"Hahah!" The crowd laughed as the girls came over to Moonshine. "Moonshine, are you alright?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah.." Moonshine said.
"Well since Trixie obviously cheated, that means you win the duel.." Twilight smiled. Moonshine smiled at Twilight. "Y-Yeah... I guess... I did....."
The girls smiled at her happily and her pokemon and Toothless nuzzled her happily.
Dear Mom,
Today I was confronted by a unicorn named Trixie who thought that she was better than everypony else. When she challenged me to a Magic Duel because I was an alicorn, I didn't want to do it cause I was scared to show off my talents, but my friends helped me see that it is okay to show off your talents, especially when you're standing up for your friends.
Moonshine and the Joltwolves
Today Moonshine was flying over the sky heading over to Equestria's National Park. Celestia had informed Moonshine that something has been threatening a pack of Joltwolves and she wanted her to investigate. What made this so important is that two of the Joltwolf females were pregnant with pups. Joltwolves were a unique kind of wolf, able to generate electricity through their bodies and they can shoot out lightning bolts at their enemies. They weren't endangered but they were a keystone species in the park, keeping the ecosystem in perfect balance.
Moonshine arrived at the National Park's entrance and was greeted by the park rangers; Rose Petals; a pinkish Earth Pony with a red mane and tail and her partner Hurricane; a blueish stallion with greyish hooves with a black mane and tail.
"Ah, Princess Moonshine, we've been expecting you." Rose Petals said with a smile.
"Thank you, do you know where the Joltwolves live?" Moonshine asked them and they nodded. "They live up on that mountain.." Hurricane pointed to a mountain with a large thundercloud over the top and sparking lightning. "Lightning Mountain. At the top of the mountain lies the Joltwolves territory."
"Thanks.." Moonshine said and the rangers let her in and she flew up towards Lightning Mountain.
When she flew up to get to the top, she was greeted by harsh rains, winds and of course lightning. "Ugh... man... this is rough..." Moonshine grunted as her wings flapped hard to get her through the storm. She avoided lightning strikes and she finally made it to the top of the mountain where she found herself in a very large clearing with a large cave in the back. The clearing looked completely empty.
"Hmm..." Moonshine said before she shook herself dry and walked through the clearing. However, before she could enter the cave, she felt a puff of hot breath on the back of her neck, making her stop in her tracks. She turned around and she saw about seven Joltwolves staring at her. They were all gigantic, but six of them were silver with blue streaks on their bodies but one was completely black with neon blue streaks on his body. Moonshine figured the black Joltwolf was their Alpha.
They all were growling at the sight of the intruder. "Um.. h-hi there... I'm not here to hurt you... I'm just here to uh... look over your pregnant females..." Moonshine stammered nervously.
The Joltwolf Alpha came in front of Moonshine and sniffed her carefully before he snorted at her. "So.... I can... check on them...?" Moonshine asked.
The Joltwolf Alpha nodded at Moonshine and she entered the cave which was dimly lit. Using her horn for extra light, she found two more Joltwolves inside; both were swollen bellies. The two females were both silver and they perked up seeing Moonshine and snarled.
"I-It's okay..." Moonshine stammered. But one of the females stood up, baring her teeth before she let out a painful yelp and had to lay back down, "Ooh..." Moonshine fluttered over to her and rubbed her swollen stomach. "Take it easy girl... easy..." The female whined as her swollen stomach gurgled a little. "Ooh, you must be hungry.. here.." Moonshine poofed up a large salmon fish for the two females and gave one to each of them.
"Here..." the two females smiled and ate the large fish happily.
When the two were finished, Moonshine made the bones disappear. "Take it easy girls..." Moonshine cooed, rubbing one of the female's swollen stomachs. The female cooed and gently nuzzled her with her large snout, making her chuckle.
Now Moonshine had to figure out what was threatening the Joltwolves. She knew that wolves had few enemies other than other wolves or cougars, so Moonshine figured it might have been one of them responsible.. but Joltwolves could shoot electricity.. so what kind of wolf or cougar could stand up to that?
Then the females and Moonshine heard snarls and growls from outside the cave. "Stay here girls.." Moonshine cooed at the pregnant females and she exited the cave and saw the Joltwolves fighting against Cougars! But these courgars were just as big as they were and they had yellow streaks on their backs! "What the-?" Moonshine questioned before she nearly dodged a yellow lightning bolt from one of the cougars.
"Joltcougars too!" Moonshine exclaimed in fear and shock. The couagrs were only three strong and while two were facing the pack one of them ran inside the cave! "Oh no..!" Moonshine exclaimed as she flew over and in front of the Joltcougars face. "Leave these pregnant females alone..!" she growled.
But the Joltcougar snarled and snapped its jaws at Moonshine but she blasted it with some magic, making it irritated. the giant cougar swung at her and struck her, pinning her onto the ground. "Oof! Ugh... that hurt..." Moonshine groaned. The cougar snarled and moved in to eat the tiny alicorn pony. Moonshine gasped and tried to get out of the cougar's paw but it put too much weight on her.
Suddenly, the black Joltwolf Alpha bit the Joltcougar on the neck, making it growl in pain and it lunged at the Joltwolf Alpha. The Alpha dodged it and launched a strong bolt of lightning at the cougar sending it out of the cave and skidding across the floor. The cougars regrouped as the Joltwolves regrouped as well in front of the cave, snarling and growling. The Joltcougars knew they were beaten this time so they decided to retreat.
"Well.. at least their gone..." Moonshine sighed as she staggered to her feet. The Joltwolf Alpha came back into the den and nudged the two pregnant females. The females were unharmed, much to his relief. Moonshine went over and felt their swollen tummies, "The pups are still healthy.." Moonshine said happily.
The second female gently scooted over to Moonshine and nuzzled her. "Hehhe.. you're welcome.." Moonshine knew that the females were only eight months along in their pregnancy which meant that in one more month they would give birth to their little puppies. "Hmm.. I'm sure Mom would allow me to stay until they gave birth... hehe.."
In the Everfree Forest, near the Castle of the Two Sisters, the shadow pony from Moonshine's dream was surrounded by six trees, chuckling to himself. "With this new spell I've mastered, I'll be able to take care of that meddling princess and started to execute my plan..." the shadow pony replied, removing his hood to reveal his midnight black coat with his greyish mane and a scar over his left eye. "With this new spell, I can make a copy of anypony I choose... and I know just the ponies who can takedown that meddling princess.." he held up six photos in his magic.... and they were of Twilight and the Mane 5!
The shadow pony placed the pictures on each of the six trees and used his magic to engrave each of their cutie marks underneath the pictures. "This spell will allow my clones to come to life and do my bidding. And once the other phases are in place, I'll force that princess into my grasp where she'll meet her doom..! Hahaha...!" he laughed and he activated the spell and it struck all the trees, making them split open and allowed the copies to be created.
The copies all looked like the Mane 6 but they were duller in color by little. The six clones exited the trees and stood before the shadow pony. "Hahaha....! Alright you six... here's what I want you to do..."
Meanwhile, high above the sky, Moonshine was flying through the fluffy white clouds with Toothless. Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff were smiling happily from the back of Toothless. The Night Fury was excited to be flying on his own like before. Toothless gave a loud roar in happiness and Moonshine smiled at him, "Having fun, huh bud?" Moonshine asked, earning a happy coo from Toothless.
"Hahaha." Moonshine chuckled.
The group all flew down through the clouds and they glided into the center of Ponyville. "That was our best flight yet!" Moonshine cheered happily. Toothless, Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff agreed happily.
They were unaware that the Mean Six were watching them. "Ugh, spying on some lame alicorn, this is the worst day ever." Mean Pinkie grumbled before Mean Fluttershy kicked dirt in her face, "No. Now it's the worst day ever hahaha..!" she laughed.
"That Element on her head is mine!" Mean Rarity claimed.
"Quiet, you imbeciles.." Mean Twilight snapped at them. "She'll hear us..."
"Ugh... why should I care.." Mean Rainbow grumbled, laying on her back, uninterested in this.
"Because once we get the power of her Element along with the others and that alicorn, no creature, not even "our Master" can tell us what to do. Just follow my lead. Got it?" Mean Twilight stated to others who smiled evily and chuckled. Then Mean Twilight walked out into the open. "Oh, hi Twilight." Moonshine greeted.
"Hello Moonshine..." Mean Twilight said. "How are you doing today?"
"I'm doing great. I just finished flying with my friends." Moonshine smiled before she looked confused for a moment.
"Is there a problem?" Mean Twilight asked.
"Are you okay? You look duller than usual..?" Moonshine asked, noticing how duller Twilight looked than normal.
"I'm fine, Moonshine. Don't you worry. I was wondering if you tell me something."
"Okay, what is it..?" Moonshine asked as Toothless, Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff looked at 'Twilight'.
"I was wondering if you could tell me where the Elements of Harmony are...?" Twilight asked her with a narrowed look. Moonshine gave her a confused look, "Don't you already know, Twilight? They're locked inside one of the Canterlot Towers."
"Hmm.. then why do you still have yours?" Mean Twilight questioned.
"Uh... because my Element bonded with me and it positioned myself on my head where my mother, auntie and I decided to let it stay." Moonshine explained. "Shouldn't you already know this? I told you this like two months ago."
"I do remember. It doesn't hurt to get a reminder does it...?" Mean Twilight asked.
"Hmm... I guess not.." Moonshine smiled. "Anyway, I'm gonna go to the library to read and work on an invention. Bye.." Moonshine started to walk away but Mean Twilight reappeared in front of her. "Wait. Why don't I come with you? We both live in there don't we?"
"Yes. You can come too. I guess.." Moonshine said.
"Excellent..." Mean Twilight smiled as she watched Moonshine go on ahead. Then the rest of the Mean Six came over. "Good. I manage to get her to trust me. Now we can find out all her secrets and weakness while 'Our Master' finishes the rest of his phases. Once everything is in place, we'll get rid of the 'Princess' and steal her Element along with the others.." Mean Twilight explained with an evil grin. The Mean Six laughed evily together.
"What should we do with her three stupid creatures..?" Mean Fluttershy questioned. "They might be on to us soon.."
"Just let me take care of that..." Mean Twilight said. "Now come, let's go see her library..." and the Mean Six followed their leader after Moonshine.
Moonshine entered her library followed by Mean Twilight. Moonshine then went downstairs into her lab where she was working on something. Mean Twilight noticed a pedestal with what looked to be saddle on it. "Whose the saddle for?" Mean Twilight asked.
"It's for Toothless." Moonshine replied, looking over her schematics of the saddle.
"Toothless?" Mean Twilight questioned before she saw the Night Fury hanging upside down like a bat on one of the ceiling supports. "Yeah. I decided to try and make a saddle with some cool weapons inside of it. So when I fly on him. I don't have rely on my magic and he won't have to use up all of his plasma blasts." Moonshine stated as she screwed in some parts. Mean Twilight smiled, interested.
"What kind of weapons..?" she asked, rubbing her hooves together.
"Shouldn't you know? You suggested that I make this." Moonshine questioned, focusing on her project.
"Ooh! Yeah, but I may need just a small refresher. If you don't mind.." Mean Twilight stated.
"Well...It includes a laser that can shoot either fire, lightning or water, depending on the setting I turn it to. We also agreed that we should include handlebars so that I can hold on it." Moonshine explained with a smile.. Mean Twilight saw a small robotic laser on the table in front of her with a large opening in the front and three large holes in the side. Moonshine then used her magic and created a yellow, red and blue orb with her magic. One for lightning. One for fire and one for water. Mean Twilight looked surprised as she placed the orbs inside of the holes and the laser lit up in the colors, yellow, red and blue.
Once the glowing stopped, Moonshine wiped her forehead. "Phew.. that one took some out of me.." she said before she attached the laser to a small hatched that was located on the side of the saddle. "Hehe.. once I'm done, its' going to be awesome..!"
"Yes.. I'm sure it will..." Mean Twilight agreed with a smirk. "I'm gonna go upstairs and read for a bit, I'll be back..."
Moonshine nodded and Mean Twilight exited the room... not noticing that Toothless was staring at her with narrowed eyes and decided to follow her.
Mean Twilight came back into the library and found the rest of her 'friends'. "So what did she tell you?" Mean Rainbow questioned in a bored voice.
"She told me she's working on a saddle for her dragon friend. 'Our Master' was right about her having great magic and her being the daughter of Celestia and niece of Luna. Speaking of which.. let's see if he completed side of his plan..."
Mean Twilight then used her magic and made a small communication portal and the Shadow Pony appeared on the other side. "Mean Six, have you completed your assignment..?" he asked.
"Not yet. Moonshine was foolish enough to believe we're her friends and we're inside her home right now. She's revealed the location of the other Elements." Mean Twilight said.
"Excellent. Stay with her." the Shadow Pony ordered. "I've already completed my phases, but you must retrieve the Elements of Harmony and Moonshine's to make my plan a complete success..! Hahahah...!" the Shadow Pony laughed before the communication was cut.
Toothless gasped at the conversation before he slipped back downstairs without any of the Mean Six noticing. That's when Moonshine came back upstairs. "Hi Twilight. Oh! Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy, I didn't know you all were here too."
"We uh... decided that... uh... you wanted some company." Mean Applejack stated with a smile.
"Oh. Okay. I was just about to get some lunch with my mother and auntie in Canterlot. If you guys wanna come, then that would be nice.." Moonshine offered.
Mean Twilight smiled. "Of course we'd like to come."
Moonshine smiled and soon the group were on the train heading towards Canterlot. When they arrived, they entered the palace throne room, "Mom, Auntie Luna. I here for our lunch date.." Moonshine gently called out, searching for her mother and auntie. However, she didn't see them on their usual thrones. "Hmm.. weird.. must already be there.." Moonshine said.
"Moonshine, if I remember correctly, you said the Elements of Harmony are inside one of the towers in Canterlot?" Mean Twilight asked. Moonshine nodded, "If you guys want to see them again, then that's okay.."
The Mean Six nodded, while Toothless, Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff narrowed their eyes at the 'Mane 6'.
Moonshine took the girls the tower where she opened the doors and lead them down the long hallway to the doors that held the Elements of Harmonys' chest. "This door is protected by a spell that only my mom and I can break. One sec." Moonshine placed her horn inside the lock and used her magic to unlock the door. The door opened revealing the Element of Harmonys' chest.
"Perfect.." Mean Twilight stated.
Moonshine levitated the chest in her magic before Mean Twilight snatched it her magic! "Twilight! What are you-?" Moonshine gasped as 'Twilight' broke the chest and gave the Elements of Harmony to the Mean Six. "What are you doing?!" Moonshine exclaimed.
"We're taking the Elements of Harmony, you idiot." Mean Fluttershy growled.
"B-But I thought we were friends!" Moonshine exclaimed, horrified.
"We're not you're friend exactly. We work for the Shadow Pony. Hahah..!" Mean Twilight explained. "We're nothing more than dopplegangers to your weakling friends.."
Moonshine gasped in horror while Toothless, Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff growled at them. "G-Give back the Elements!" Moonshine exclaimed, but Mean Twilight smiled evily before she and the Mean Six activated the Elements! Moonshine gasped in horror, knowing what they were going to do.
"Say goodbye...!" Mean Twilight laughed as the group tried to blast her... but the Elements stopped glowing..!
"What..?" Mean Twilight exclaimed, tapping hers. "Why aren't they working..?"
Suddenly, Moonshine's Element of Harmony glowed and shot out a beam at the Element of Magic which connected to the other Elements and they all detached themselves from the Mean Six and floated over and above Moonshine's head. "What is the meaning of this...?" Mean Twilight growled.
"I-I don't know..." Moonshine stammered, seeing the six angry mares.
"Give us those Elements..!" Mean Rarity growled. "They're mine!" The six mares moved forwards to take the Elements from her but Toothless fired a plasma blast at them, forcing them back while Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff stood in front of her. "Soo... it seems the Elements act in the same way as yours Moonshine..."
Moonshine and the Mean Six turned and saw the Shadow Pony from before in the room! "W-What are you doing here, Shadow Pony?!"
The Shadow Pony laughed, "The name is Midnight, thank you very much. As for what I'm doing? I simply created the Mean Six so that you would be foolish enough to think of them as your real friends and take them to the Elements of Harmony so they could steal them and yours, but it seems the Elements are bonded to your friends just like your pathetic Element.
However, that gave me enough research to create these..." Midnight revealed six more Elements but they were all black and they matched the Mean Six's cutie marks.
"The Elements of Disharmony..! Normality, Greed, Cruelty, Despair, Disloyalty, and Deceit…!" he placed the Elements of Disharmony on their respective ponies.
Element of Deceit - Mean Applejack
Element of Disloyalty - Mean Rainbow Dash.
Element of Cruelty - Mean Fluttershy
Element of Despair - Mean Pinkie Pie.
Element of Greed - Mean Rarity.
And Element of Normality - Mean Twilight.
"I made them just as powerful as the Elements of Harmony. With these at our disposal, we'll rule Equestria and finally take out you... girls..?" Midnight questioned with an evil smile.
The girls smiled evily at Moonshine, who gulped nervously. They got into formation and activated the Elements, floating up in the air, just like Twilight and her friends would.
"Oh.. and by the way... your friends and family are currently imprisoned in Tartarus. But you won't be around to rescue them! Hahaha..! Let her have it..!" Midnight yelled and the Mean Six unleashed the power of the Elements of Disharmony on Moonshine, who braced herself for the impact before everything turned black...!
To Be Continued...
Moonshine shivered in fear, thinking that she got blasted by the Mean Six and their Elements of Disharmony, but... "Rockruff...!"
"R-R-Rockruff...?" Moonshine called out.
"Rockruff..!" Rockruff barked and Moonshine felt a small wet snout nuzzling her arm. Moonshine carefully opened her eyes and saw a rainbow colored shield around her, Toothless, Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff! "What...?" Moonshine asked in awe. Moonshine them saw the other six Elements of Harmony floating in front of her, still glowing in their mystical way. "T-The Elements of Harmony protected us from the Elements of Disharmony...!" she realized in awe.
The Elements dropped the protective shield and Moonshine noticed the Mean Six and Midnight were gone! "Oh no... they're gone...!" Moonshine gasped, before she remembered what Midnight said just before the blast. "M-My friends and family m-must be in Tartarus... Oh no..! I-I gotta do something..." Moonshine stammered. "B-But I can't go up against the Mean Six and their Elements! I only have one Element that I can control. I need Twilight and the others to activate the other Elements.. oooh.. what am I gonna do...?"
Toothless, Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff looked at each other with concern. Twilight and the Mane 5 were the only ones who could control the other six Elements of Harmony, but without them, they were useless.
Now Moonshine had to rescue her friends and family by herself with only her Element. It wouldn't be a fair fight. Seven versus four! They would get clobbered in no time!
Suddenly, the Elements of Magic, Generosity, Loyalty, Kindness, Laughter and Honesty glowed on their own once more and so did Moonshine and her four creature friends, "Uh.. what's happening..?" Moonshine whimpered in fear before the Element whisked them off to Celestia knows where.
Meanwhile, in Tartarus. Twilight and the Mane 5 along with Celestia and Luna were all locked in a cage together. Twilight, Rarity, Celestia and Luna had anti-magic rings on their horns, preventing them from using their magic while Rainbow and Fluttershy had braces on their wings, preventing them from flying as well. Celestia and Luna had the braces as well.
"Aw... why the long faces...?" Midnight smirked as he and the Mean Six appeared behind him. "I thought you'd be happy as my prisoners.."
"Yeah right." Rainbow Dash stated.
"Why are you doing this, Midnight?" Twilight growled.
"Why?" Midnight scoffed before he laughed. "You all know why! So I can get rid of that Princess Moonshine and finally rule all of Equestria!"
"You will never rule in Equestria." Celestia replied with an upset look on her face.
"Oh yes he will, your majesties.." Mean Twilight mocked. "With these Elements of Disharmony, we'll destroy all of Equestria taking it by force. Hahaha...!"
"You bullies will be sorry when Moonshine gets here and kicked your butts!" Pinkie Pie yelled in anger, jumping up and down.
"You mean the Moonshine that my girls blasted to smithereens with their Elements of Disharmony?" Midnight smirked, earning a horrified shock from everyone.
"That weak excuse for a Princess is long gone by now.." Mean Fluttershy smirked and laughed.
"No...." Celestia whispered in shock.
"Eh believe it. If those lame Elements didn't make a shield around her last second.." Mean Pinkie Pie laying on the ground, uninterested, but it caught everyone's attention.
"What was that?!" Mean Twilight snapped.
"Those lame Elements made a shield around her and her pests. No big deal." Mean Pinkie deadpanned.
"It is a big deal! You imbecile! That means she's still out there!" Mean Twilight snapped at Pinkie Pie, yanking her up to her hooves.
"Oh, don't worry about her.. without her 'friends' controlling the other Elements of Harmony, she only had one Element to use against our six Elements." Midnight smirked. "She would not be that foolish to challenge us knowing we've got the advantage."
"Ooooh! Just you wait! Moonshine will kick you butts for sure!" Rainbow exclaimed before she turned to the Mean Six. "Especially you six!"
Mean Rainbow yawned, "Wake me up when I care..." she groaned before she curled up and took a nap.
"Hahaha... even a Princess like her wouldn't be that dumb and naive to come here, knowing that it houses Equestria's most dangerous creatures and villains." Midnight smirked before he turned his back to them. "Now if you'll excuse us, we've got some conquering to do..." The Mean Six smirked before they left with their master. Mean Rainbow was dragged along by Mean Fluttershy.
"Ugh... this sucks! We're locked in here while those creeps are gonna go after Moonshine and destroy her..!" Rainbow growled, frustrated with their current situation.
"But you heard what our dopplegangers said, our Elements of Harmony protected Moonshine from their Elements of Disharmony." Twilight pointed out. "Meaning, if Moonshine can find a way to control the six of them, then she'll be evenly matched with the Mean Six."
"Let us hope you are right, my faithful student." Celestia said. "For Equestria and my daughters' sake."
Back with Moonshine, she rubbed her eyes and to clear her vision and she found herself and her friends in a cave with purple diamonds all around the walls and small pools and plants near the bottom. Moonshine turned around and she was greeted with a large crystalline tree with five branches with hole in them and the center of the tree had a star hole in the middle. The trunk of the tree had the markings of the sun and moon as well. "Woah.... what's this...?"
Suddenly, the Tree glowed and appeared a sparkling version of Twilight Sparkle. "Hello there..." she greeted in a mystical tone.
"W-Who are you...?" Moonshine questioned.
"I am the Tree of Harmony..."
"The Tree of Harmony..?" Moonshine asked, confused.
The sparkling Twilight nodded, "I sensed that you need some help.."
"Boy, do I. The Shadow Pony that I saw in my dreams created dopplegangers of my friends and they control six Elements that are the complete opposite of my friends and had very powerful dark magic in them. Now my friends and family are trapped in Tartarus and I'm the only one who can save them, but I only have control over my Element, not Twilights' or the others." Moonshine explained.
Astral Twilight nodded, "I see. I sensed a great deal of dark magic, but you don't have to worry about that because your Element can counter the Elements of Disharmony."
"H-How..?" Moonshine asked confused.
"Your Element of Harmony, The Element of Hope, is the combination of all the Elements that grew from me. Making it just as powerful as all six combined, meaning you don't need all seven Elements to unleashed great power. Using your Element of Harmony, you can counter the Mean Six's Elements of Disharmony."
Moonshine was surprised.. "So.. the Elements... came from you...?"
Astral Twilight nodded, "I grew the Elements of Harmony and I created yours, Moonshine." Moonshine was speechless, "But.. why did they protect me from the Mean Six all on their own?" she questioned.
"Since your Element of Hope is created by the six original Elements of Harmony, they are all connected and bonded to you in a way, meaning they'll act on their own to protect you from harm." Astral Twilight explained. Moonshine looked at the six floating Elements in awe.
"Now it is time for you to rescue what is rightfully yours, Moonshine. I believe in you..." Astral Twilight said before she vanished in a flash of light. When Moonshine and the others looked they saw Twilight and the others Elements of Harmony, except for Moonshine’s floated out of their necklaces and crown and magically float back into their rightful places in the Tree of Harmony.
“Wow..” Moonshine gasped in awe before a loud explosion was heard. “What?” Moonshine and the others rushed out of the cave and saw smoke rising in Ponyville. Moonshine teleported everyone there where she gasped in horror... the Golden Oak Library was destroyed! There’s was nothing left of it but a large piece of wood. All the books were either destroyed or smoking and burning from the blast.
Moonshine was horrified. The culprits revealed themselves laughing at her, “Sorry Moonshine..” Mean Twilight bragged. “Guess you’re homeless now.. hahaha...!”
Moonshine saw the six of them and snarled. “You’ll lay for this..!” she yelled and Toothless roared in agreement along with Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff.
“Hahaha... is like to see you try..” Mean Twilight said before she teleported everyone to Tartarus, where Twilight and the other saw them. “Moonshine!” “Moony!” Twilight and Pinkie called.
Midnight then appeared before the Mean Six, “So you were foolish enough to bring challenge us. Just like how you were foolish enough to bring my minions to your Elements of Harmony.”
“You’ll pay for destroying Twilights’ and my home!” Moonshine yelled and Twilight gasped in horror. “Our home is... gone...”
Midnight laughed, “Did you forget about one thing..?” Midnight looked at the girls and the Mean Six got into formation and activated the Elements of Disharmony.
Moonshine snarled and her Element of Hope activated and she floated up in the air as well. The Mean Six blasted their combined beam at Moonshine and she countered with her own rainbow beam from her Element of Hope.
The two beams collided and were at a standstill one struggling to overpower the other. Moonshine concentrated hard and her eyes glowed white and her beam increased tenfold! It overpowered the Mean Six’s beam and caused a large explosion that blinded everyone.
After a couple of minutes, Moonshine floated back down into the ground and she didn’t see any sign of the Mean Six and Midnight.
She did see Twilight and the others coming to, now with the braces and anti-magic rings destroyed in the blast. “That was awesome...!” Rainbow exclaimed. “You wiped the floor with them!”
“Outstanding!” Luna added.
“That was Moontastic!” Pinkie Pie added.
“Woo-wee That Element of yours matched there’s ten fold!” Applejack added.
“It was simply gorgeous, darling.” Rarity added.
“Excellent, honey..” Princess Celestia said. The only one who didn’t praise her was Twilight who stammered to Moonshine, “Moonshine... our home...”
Moonshine’s face turned grim and she teleported everypony to the remains of the library. Everyone gasped in horror seeing the destroyed library and home of their friends. “H-How...?” Twilight gasped.
“The Mean Six... they destroyed it...” Moonshine replied grimly.
Twilight was in such despair at the loss of her home... however her face suddenly turned... to one of anger as she glared at Moonshine. “Moonshine, how could you..?!” Twilight suddenly exclaimed at her in anger. “You lead the enemies right to the Elements of Harmony and now we’ve lost our home cause of you!”
“W-Wha-?!” Moonshine stammered.
“You just can’t stop being so naive, kind and generous that you can’t even see an evil plot from a mile away!” she yelled in anger.
“B-But I-“
“You need to stop being so sweet to everypony you meet! We told you this before and you didn’t listen and now we’ve lost our home because of you and more villains are out there bent on destroying Equestria, all because of your pathetic behavior!”
“P-Pathetic..” Moonshine whispered, horrified.
“Ugh...! YES IT PATHETIC! YOU ARE JUST SO PATHETIC! NO DAUGHTER OR NIECE OF THE RULERS OF EQUESTRIA WOULD LET SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN! CELESTIA AND LUNA WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU...!” Twilight yelled in complete rage. Everyone gasped in horror at her last sentence and Moonshine felt her heart split in two...
Moonshine just stood there... froze in horror a what Twilight just said. Tears started to pour from her eyes and she just closed her eyes and yelled back, “IF THAT’S HOW YOU FEEL THAN I DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU! OR ANY OF YOU! IF YOU THINK THAT I’M WORTHLESS, PATHETIC AND A HORRIBLE DAUGHTER AND NIECE AND WANT ME GONE, AND OUT OF YOUR LIVES, THEN FINE!” Moonshine screamed at the top of her lungs with tears raining down from her eyes. Moonshine ran away into what was left of their home and she packed everything including her pokemon and everything from her lab, including her saddle for Toothless. Then, she just ran out with tears poring from her eyes and pushed past Twilight and the others as she ran off and out of Ponyville.
“.... Twilight! I can’t believe you would say such a horrible thing!” Applejack snapped at her, shocking Twilight.
“What we were all thinking it.” Twilight growled.
“No we weren’t! That was totally out of line. She saved our lives and all of Equestria!” Rainbow added.
“We wouldn’t need saving if she would have just acted correctly.” Twilight growled.
“Darling, you cannot blame Moonshine for losing your home. It was that ruffian Midnight and the Mean Six!” Rarity added.
“You just said the most hurtful thing to Moony!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed with her mane flattened. “I didn’t know you could go so low, Twilight.”
“You should have be thankful for Moonshine, the only friend you ever had before us but you went ahead and pointed out all her flaws and called her a mistake to Celestia and Luna!” Fluttershy yelled with surpassing anger and tears in her eyes. “How could you?! Moonshine risked everything to save us and instead of praising her you just broke her heart! You monster!”
Twilight’s friends then just walked away from Twilight, furious with her for how she treated Moonshine after saving them and all of Equestria. Celestia and Luna turned away as well. “Come on sister, let’s go find Moonshine and show her that some ponies appreciate her..” Celestia said, giving Twilight a glare.
Twilight folded her ears at her mentors’ glare. “Yeah.. us to girls... let’s go find Moonshine or as Twilight called her ‘pathetic’.” Applejack snarled as she looked at back the mare. With that, the girls and the Princesses left.
Twilight just stared at them... frozen for a moment.. before she fell on her rump.... and started to cry.... because of her anger and ignorance.. she just lost her best friend... possibly... forever...
To Be Continued....
Author's Note
Time for some friendship drama...! How will the Mane 6 recover from this friendship betrayal?
Deep in the Everfree Forest, far from Ponyville, Moonshine just laid there in a clearing, sobbing while covering her face. She could still hear the hurtful things Twilight said to her.
“You just can’t stop being so naive, kind and generous that you can’t even see an evil plot from a mile away!”
“You need to stop being so sweet to everypony you meet! We told you this before and you didn’t listen and now we’ve lost our home because of you and more villains are out there bent on destroying Equestria, all because of your pathetic behavior!”
“YOU ARE JUST SO PATHETIC! NO DAUGHTER OR NIECE OF THE RULERS OF EQUESTRIA WOULD LET SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN! CELESTIA AND LUNA WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU...!”
Moonshine sniffled and sobbed some more, just thinking about her best friend saying such things to her, broke her heart even more, leaving her feeling useless. Moonshine sniffled and she wiped her tears. Toothless, Lycanroc, Mudbray and Rockruff looked at her with such worry. They've never seen her this.... broken before....
"M-Maybe Twilight's right... maybe I just too nice for my own well being. Maybe everyone is better off without me..." Moonshine thought grimly to herself.
Then, to Toothless, Lycanroc, Mudbray and Rockruffs' shock... Moonshine lost all color in her fur, mane and tail, becoming completely grey. A tear dropped from her eye and it was in the shape of a broken heart...!
"Moonshine..!" "Moonshine, honey..!" Moonshine didn't react when she heard her mother, auntie and her friends coming up to her.
"Hey sugarcube.." Applejack said. "What Twilight said to you was way out of line. We're grateful that you helped save us and all of Equestria."
"Yeah, so.. why don't you come back to Ponyville..?" Rainbow asked with a hopeful smile.
"Why would I go back to a place where nobody wants me." Moonshine replied in a rude tone, much to the groups' shock. "It's obvious no one wants me around because I'm just too nice and pathetic for my own good or for the good of Equestria."
"W-What? Moonshine, no you're not!" Applejack exclaimed.
"Yeah, we like you just the way you are, Moony." Pinkie stated. "Don't let what meanie Twilight said get to you.."
"Too late..." Moonshine grumbled before she grabbed her stuff. "I just a pathetic alicorn. I don't even deserve a mother and auntie like Celestia and Luna..." Moonshine then took off her Elements of Hope and gave it to Celestia. "Here... give it a daughter more deserving...." and she just trotted off. Toothless and the others looked at the group with a worried look before they followed Moonshine.
"Oh dear... this is more serious than I thought." Luna stated with great worry.
"Did anypony else notice how grey Moonshine was?" Rainbow questioned.
"Yeah, and she acted the total opposite of how she usually acts.." Fluttershy said. "I wonder why?"
"Well isn't it obvious..?" another voice came and in front of the group appeared a draconequus! He has a deer antler on the right, a blue goat horn on the left, one long fang, different-sized pupils, a snake tongue, a goat beard, and white bushy eyebrows. He has the right arm of a lion, the left claw of an eagle, the right leg of a lizard, and the left leg of a goat. In addition, he has a bat's right wing, a Pegasus' left wing, a horse's mane, and a dragon-like snake's tail with a white tail tuft. The shape of his body resembles that of a snake.
"Discord?!" Everyone exclaimed, seeing the draconequus floating in the air on his back.
"Hello everypony.." Discord grinned.
"What are you doing here?!" Celestia exclaimed. "My sister and I sealed you away!"
"Well that little spell of yours broken once you lost your connection with the Elements of Harmony..." Discord grinned. "But rather than start creating chaos like I would, I couldn't help but overhear Twilight and Moonshine major fall out. Hahaha! Hilarious!"
"Enough of your games, Discord." Luna grumbled. "Do you know what's wrong with thou niece?"
"It's obvious that Twilight broke Moonshine's heart by claiming that being herself basically lead to Equestria nearly being destroyed, triggered Hopeless Magic inside of herself turning herself grey." Discord explained.
"Woah, woah, woah..... so you mean to tell us that Moonshine basically shunned everything flaw about herself because of her fight with Twilight, creating this.. Hopeless Magic that turned her into the opposite of who she really is?" Rainbow repeated.
"That's correct, my dear Rainbow Dash.." Discord stated.
Celestia and Luna were shocked and horrified at the same time. Their daughter/niece was completely taken over by Hopeless Magic. Hopeless Magic is a unique form of dark magic where the subject lose hope due to thinking that they were worthless to their home. Since Moonshine thought that she was too nice for Equestria's well being, she ended up shunning every quality that makes her Moonshine, thus creating Hopeless Magic inside of herself.
"Oh honey..." Celestia sighed sadly.
"Is there a way to reverse the Hopeless Magic?" Fluttershy asked.
"The only way to reverse such magic is if you can get Moonshine to see that her flaws are useful to Equestria instead of being useless." Discord stated. "And I suggest starting with the pony who caused all of this..." and then Discord teleported away.
"... Twilight..." the Mane 5 said together.
Back at the ruined Golden Oak Library, Twilight was sniffling, feeling very guilty and remorse about what she said to her best friend. She let her anger of losing her home take control and now she ruined her longest friendship. "What have I done..." Twilight sniffled, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Twilight.." Twilight sniffled and turned to see the Mane 5 and the two Princesses walking towards her. Twilight wiped her eyes again and turned to face them. "H-Hi.... I know what I did to Moonshine was extremely out of line, selfish and goes against everything I've learned about friendship so far. I was so angry about losing our home and at Midnight and the Mean Six for everything they've put us through that I took it all out on Moonshine, thinking that her kindness and generosity blinded her from seeing the truth about the Mean Six.
I never should have said such things to her, especially that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna didn't deserve her. I'm so so sorry..." Twilight lowered her head in great shame.
The group looked at each other and then back at Twilight. Applejack then walked up to her and lifted her head gently, "I can see that you were truly honest with your apology, Twi, but the one who you should really apologize to is Moonshine. Because of you, she created her own Hopeless Magic, causing her turn grey and actually believe everything you said to her.."
Twilight looked shocked at Applejack's words. Rainbow then came up to her, "Yeah, Discord said that because of you, Moonshine shunned every quality that makes her who she is and you have to fix this.."
Twilight, still looking ashamed, nodded at Rainbow Dash. "R-Right..."
However..
"Oh... going so soon..." The group gasped and turned seeing the Mean Six and Midnight standing behind them! "What they hay-?" Applejack exclaimed.
"You didn't really think that one Element could take us down.." Mean Twilight smirked.
"I created these ponies with powerful dark magic. The Elements of Disharmony I created gives these ponies, so that they could withstand Moonshine's pathetic attempt to defeat them." Midnight smirked before he laughed. "And I should thank you for doing the second to last phase of my plan for me.."
"What phase?" Rainbow growled.
"I knew that as long as Moonshine is who she is that wouldn't stop fighting to protect the ones she loves. But with her little argument with Twilight, she was able to break her heart by telling her that she's useless and pathetic , putting everypony and Equestria at risk, breaking her heart completely and shunning everything that made her willing to fight. Without her, you ponies are defenseless.. hahahaha!" Midnight laughed before she blasted the girls, created a cage around them and chaining them to the bars of the cage.
"Now I believe its time that my minions finish off that pony for good.." Midnight nodded at the Mean Six and they laughed evily before they went off to find Moonshine and finish her off.
"Leave Moonshine alone! She's my friend!" Twilight yelled.
"Ha! If she was really your friend then why did you say she was useless and pathetic cause she was always too nice, huh?" Midnight scoffed with a raised eyebrow. Twilight winced at his point before she looked ashamed again, "You even blame her for the lost of your precious home! You said that just by being herself she's a threat to Equestria just as much as we are! You made her believe that she was worthless. Now tell me.. what friend would do that....?"
Twilight closed her eyes and she sat down, defeated and a tear fell from her eye... "N-No friend...." and she started quietly sobbing. Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy came around Twilight and comforted her as Midnight smirked. "Hahaha... you know whose really pathetic... you all! You think that 'friendship is magic' well, it's not! Friendship is nothing more than a waste. And once I conquer this miserable land, you'll see what real magic is...! Hahahaha....!"
The Princess narrowed their eyes at Midnight. "You'll never prevail, Midnight.." Celestia growled.
"Oh won't I...?" Midnight smirked, turning to see the Mean Six returning with Moonshine tied up and with Toothless, Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff in a cage as well!
Celestia and Luna gasped in horror while Midnight laughed. Mean Twilight dropped Moonshine on the ground and she just had a blank, emotionless expression on her face. The Mean Six backed off as Midnight went over to her and Moonshine looked back up at her before she looked away. "Hahaha....! Excellent work, Twilight Sparkle, you've completely broken her spirit, making her the perfect target.. to be destroyed..." Midnight hissed as he lit his horn with dark magic.
"No..!" Celestia exclaimed in horror.
However... Moonshine's Element of Hope suddenly glowed on its own and sent it own blast at Midnight, knocking him back from Moonshine. "What?!" Midnight snarled.
The Element of Hope then came in front of Moonshine... as did Astral Twilight.
"Moonshine... I sense Hopeless Magic in your heart... you must fight against it to save your family..."
"What's the point... I'm useless... I'm too nice for Equestria's own being... I don't deserve to be a Princess..." Moonshine said in a monotone voice.
"Yes you do.... Princesses are kind and loyal to their family and subjects. You stood up to Nightmare Moon to bring back your mother. You saved Twilight and her friends from their evil selves when you could have let them take over Equestria... being yourself is not useless to Equestria. It's what makes Equestria stronger..."
Moonshine looked at Astral Twilight for a moment and thought about what it said.... and her color returned to normal and she sat up. "Y-You're right..." Moonshine stated with a small smile on her face. Astral Twilight smiled The Element of Hope floated over to Moonshine and engulfed her body in a rainbow glow.
Everypony shielded their eyes at the light.. and when it was gone, everypony gasped in awe. Moonshine was now wearing armor on her body!
She had four golden shoes on her hooves, like Luna's but they had the symbols of the Elements of Generosity, Kindness, Laughter and Honesty on them. She wore body armor as well that was also golden and it had the symbols of the Elements of Loyalty and Magic on the back. Finally, her crown was shimmering brightly on her head behind her horn.
Rarity and the girls were amazed by her new look while Midnight and the Mean Six growled at her.
The Mean Six activated their Elements of Disharmony and fired a blast at Moonshine, but her Element countered their beam and she added their own magic to the blast, striking the Mean Six and sending them flying far, far, far away from Ponyville.
Moonshine then aimed her beam at Midnight, "Nooo....!" Midnight screamed as her Elements magic engulfed him and turned him to stone! Then it sent out a shockwave that broke the cage, freeing Twilight and the others. Moonshine floated back down to the ground and Rarity and the Mane 4 cheered for her. "Alright Moonshine!" Applejack cheered.
"Yeah Moony!" Pinkie Pie cooed.
"That was awesome...!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"And so beautiful..." Fluttershy added. Princess Celestia and Luna smiled at their daughter/niece.
Finally, Twilight walked up to Moonshine and the girls backed away. "Moonshine... I-I'm so sorry.. I never should have said those things to you. I let my anger take control and I said the most hurtful things I could think of to you. I never meant any of it. I love that your kind and generous. Celestia and Luna do deserve a pony like you as their daughter/niece. Your flaws aren't worthless to Equestria, it makes Equestria and better place.... and it made me a better pony.... please forgive me..."
Moonshine looked at Twilight for a moment before she gave her a smile, "I forgive you, Twilight..."
Twilight smiled and the two best friends hugged each other with such love. Moonshine's Element of Hope suddenly glowed on its own again and it launched out a large beam to the other side of Ponyville. Out of the ground sprouted a tree-castle!
The tree-castle bears some resemblance to the Golden Oak Libraryat least the aboveground portion, but is many times larger and appears to have a multi-level castle in its branches, which includes a great balcony, two spires, and a tower. The structure has at least one banner flying on the side marked with Moonshine's Element of Hope and Twilight's Cutie Mark and the top bears a large crystal star. Two sets of five strings of beads hang off the side of the structure much like the white beads that hang off the Tree of Harmony. At the foot is a great golden stair for the two-leaved golden door into the tree's body. Two open lancet windows flank the door.
Twilight and the others ran over there and gasped at the sight, "Sweet Celestia...! Are you all seeing what I'm seeing?" Rarity asked.
"But.. whose is it?" Twilight asked.
"I believe it is yours and Twilights, Moonshine." Celestia smiled at her daughter.
"I-It is...?" Moonshine gasped in awe before Discord appeared. "Oh wonderful! This is such a gorgeous castle, Moonshine. Every Princess needs a castle am I right..?"
Celestia and Luna rolled her eyes at Discord. Together everyone goes inside the castle to take a look of what glory awaits inside as Twilight and the princesses lead the way with Spike and the Mane 5 right behind them with Discord following a larger distance back as they walk through the castle hallway. Moonshine and Twilight looked in awe at their new home as well as Toothless and the pokemon. "Moonshine, you’re probably wondering what you are now meant to do as a princess. Do you know now?” Celestia spoke to oonshine as they continued walking down the hall.
“As princess, I believe I have the power to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria. I believe that this is the role I am meant to have in our world! The role I choose to have!” Moonshine stated.
“Then it is unlikely you are meant to take on this task alone.” Princess Celestia mentioned as she uses her magic to open the double-doors in front of them causing Spike and the seven ponies to gasp in awe at the sight of what they are seeing. It was a massive throne room with throne seats with cutie marks made specifically for all seven ponies representing the Elements of Harmony in front of a large circle with a large star in the very center.
“You are now Moonshine, the Princess of Friendship.” Princess Celestia proclaimed as the Mane 7 all get themselves comfortable on their specialty made chairs. “But what is the Princess of Friendship without her friends?” Celestia added as the Mane 6, Toothless, Lycanroc, Mudbray, Rockruff, Discord and Spike all huddle around her.
“Wait a minute, where's my throne?!” Discord asked in surprise seeing that he doesn’t have a royal seat with the girls.
“I don't think you're quite there yet.” Moonshine said sympathetically.
"Yes, well, I suppose not.” Discord admittedly chuckled in agreement.
”Now how about we all get a look at my new castle as all Ponyville ponies are invited for the day.” Twilight offered much to their delight as Moonshine begins to sing.
“Each one of us has something special
That makes us different, that makes us rare.”
Moonshine sang as she invited everypony inside the castle with her hoof.
“We have a light that shines within us
That we were always meant to share.”
Fluttershy sang as she and Rainbow Dash flew above the throne room as ponies walk inside the room.
“And when we come together
Combine the light that shines within
There is nothing we can't do
There is no battle we can't win.”
The Mane 6 sang as they danced row by row and face to face with Twilight and Fluttershy facing each other in one row, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie in the second row, and Applejack and Rarity in the third row.
“When we come together
There'll be a star to guide the way
It's inside us every day
See it now! See it now!”
The girls sang as they walked up to the star with Moonshine in the middle and each raised a hoof towards the middle of the star. Moonshine's Element glows bright and sent out a rainbow burst with the rainbow flying all over Equestria.
“Let the rainbow remind you
That together we will always shine
Let the rainbow remind you
That forever this will be our time.”
Twilight reminisced about her big argument with Moonshine causing her to believe that she was a worthless alicorn and that everyone would be better off without her which activated the Hopeless Magic inside of herself and to lose her spirit and her color.
"Each one of us will sometimes falter
We may stumble
We may fall."
Then the girls remember the Astral Twilight reminding Moonshine that her flaws make Equestria stronger and that she's not a worthless alicorn, but an alicorn she should be proud of.
"But we still have a kind of magic
One that will see us
Though it all."
“And when we come together
Combine the light that shines within
There is nothing we can't do
There is no battle we can't win.”
“When we come together
There'll be a star to guide the way
It's inside us every day
See it now! See it now!”
The girls sang as the rainbow came back to the castle passing by Discord who is humbly and awkwardly standing as the princesses and all of the gathered ponies are holding no resentment towards Discord for his betrayal as he humbly gives Princess Celestia a bouquet of flowers to thank her for her letting bygones be bygones.
“Let the rainbow remind you
That together we will always shine.”
Moonshine sang as her friends huddled around her for a group photo.
Author's Note
With Midnight defeat and the Mean Six banished from Equestria, Moonshine will now begins her life as the Princess of Friendship. By the way, I have plans on doing like a squeal to this, but I don't really know since I have trouble coming up with chapter ideas for sequels. If anyone wants to make a squeal to this, just leave a comment with an idea for a chapter than I can try.
Author's Note
Story Plot: Moonshine and the Mane Six discover a large crystalline map created from their thrones which sends them to a village to solve a friendship problem. There they meet Starlight Glimmer, a pony who seems nice has a sinister plot that involves forcing ponies to be the same. When Moonshine and the girls challenge that philosophy, they find themselves in danger in which Moonshine sacrifices herself to save her friends. Now Twilight and the others have to find a way to save her and reveal the truth to the village ponies.
The Cutie Map Part 1
One morning in the Castle of Friendship, the Mane Seven all enter the throne room where Spike is found sleeping on his throne. it's been a week since the defeat of Midnight and the Mean Six. Twilight and Moonshine moved in to their new castle home.
Toothless, Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff were all ecstatic about their new home.
Once everypony is seated in their specifically designed throne chairs, Twilight spoke to everypony.
“Let’s go through this one more time.” Twilight began as she rubbed her hoof under her chin causing Rainbow Dash to groan to aggravation as apparently Twilight has talked about this multiple times now.
“We've been over it like a million times, Twilight! Moonshine regained her spirit and color, beat the Hopeless Magic, blasted the Mean Six out of Equestria, defeated Midnight and got you both sweet castle! End of story!” Rainbow Dash quickly told Twilight of what had just happened in a quickly summed up fashion.
“Yes, but why?” Twilight acknowledged but can’t help but question why she isn’t getting all of this so sudden after turning herself around.
“I dunno, sugarcube. Maybe it's just your new house and there ain't nothin' more to it than that.” Applejack answered as she moved to sit in her chair. As soon as she did the cutie mark on her chair glowed.
“I must say, speaking strictly on aesthetics, there really doesn't need to be more to it. It's all simply divine!” Rarity added as she sat down on her chair causing the cutie mark on her chair to glow too while saying all that’s important is that the Twilight they all know and loved is back.
“I agree with Twilight. And Rarity. And Applejack. And Rainbow Dash. And Pinkie Pie.” Fluttershy chimed in as she sat down on her chair with her cutie mark on her chair glowing too. “Oh, and probably Spike.” Fluttershy added as if she almost forgot to include as she turned to him who is still sleeping and snoring on his chair.
“As princess, Moonshine has been chosen to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria.” Twilight continued to speak her mind as she paces around the center of the room. "Twilight, stop worrying about it." Moonshine, daughter of Princess Celestia and niece of Princess Luna, said to her best friend. "I don't mind this."
"But Moonshine, the Tree obviously sees you as some kind of student to it, so why would it want us to sit in a castle in Ponyville? It doesn't make any sense.” She concluded as she sat down on her chair causing her cutie mark to glow along with the mark on her chair.
Everypony takes notice when the cutie marks on the chair glow as the beams of light they produced all shined onto the star in the center of the room causing crystal rocks to form as a crystal table starts to appear from the center of the room causing Spike to awaken from hearing this who then looks surprised at the sight that had just formed in the middle of the room.
“Is that new? I like it.” Spike commented just as surprised as everypony in the room.
Spike would then walk on the table as looks around it as what they are seeing is a map of all of Equestria.
“This is incredible! It's got all of Equestria!” Spike commented in amazement.
“Hi, Mom and Dad!” Pinkie happily commented as she looked at her parent’s rock farm house.
Spike at that moment would end up stepped on the model house causing Pinkie’s eyes to water up as if she thought her parents were killed.
Suddenly, Moonshine's Element of Hope shimmered andd created a projected image of the crown itself and The Mane Six’s cutie marks on their flanks and they glow as projected images of them circling around Moonshine's Element of Hope and they hovered above the map from where Ponyville is to some town near the mountains.
Twilight, wanting a better look, used her magic to drag Spike off the table so she can examine this.
“But if this is Ponyville, why are our cutie marks nd Moonshine's Element over there?” Fluttershy commented wondering what this meant.
“I don't know.” Twilight honestly answered. “But it seems like the map wants us to find out. The Tree, Moonshine's Element, her armor, this castle, and now the map. How can we not follow it?” She questioned her friends.
“Y'know what?” Rainbow Dash flew in close examining some places on the map. “There's a ton of room for dangerous adventure along that route. Count me in!” She quickly put her hoof forward to join Twilight on this trip.
“Aw, shoot, I reckon you're right.” Applejack responded in agreement.
“Well, I was planning on organizing my baking sheets, but okay!” Pinkie answered sounding reluctant at first before happily agreeing too.
“Very well.” Rarity reluctantly agreed too with a smile as she and Pinkie turn to Fluttershy expecting her answer wanting her to come along to with Rainbow Dash joining them as well.
“Um, maybe I'll just stay here with Spike.” Fluttershy nervously responded not wanting to come.
“Awesome!” Spike happily responded as he wore a drinking hat and a foam finger. “Me and Big Mac have a huge weekend ahead of us talkin' hoofball, and... and trading hoofball cards, and arguing about hoofball stats...”
Hearing all this causing Fluttershy to make weirded out expressions as she sees is signing herself up for activates that only guy and stallions would like.
“O-o-on second thought, m-m-maybe I'd better go with them. In case they need me.” Fluttershy quickly answered to show that she has changed her mind as she turns to Rainbow Dash who smiles in response to her answer.
“Looks like it's time for a road trip.” Twilight told her friends with a confident expression.
“Well, suit yourself. But he's got a Hock Fetlock rookie card I plan to sweet-talk right into these hot little claws.” Spike continued to express his excitement over his plans with Big Mac as the Mane Six head out.
The Mane Seven all board the train from Ponyville to their destination as the train rode on tracks through mountains and tunnels until the train reached the end of the tracks as it stopped in front of a yellow and black stripped signed to signal that this is a dead end and the end of the train ride.
The Mane Six all exit the train as it backs away to depart from the dead end stop as Twilight looks the map she made herself for a moment before rolling it up and walking ahead in the direction of the nearby town with her friend’s right behind her.
The Mane Six would cross a wooden bridge and then reached their destination, a small village down below the mountains.
“That's it! That's the place on the map!” Twilight pointed out as Rarity fumbled with the dust in her hair.
“Right. Let's get down there and find the spa.” Rarity spoke prepared to head on down before being stopped by Twilight who magically teleports in front of her.
“Wait.” Twilight stopped Rarity in her tracks with a hoof on her chest. “We don't know why the map sent us here. We shouldn't just walk right in. It could be dangerous.”
“Yes!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in excitement at the mention of danger she thrives of engaging in it.
“Stay behind me, everypony! I'm on it!” Pinkie spoke as she stood on her rear hoof while placing her front hoofs in front of Twilight and Rarity with a serious expression.
“Careful, Pinkie!” Applejack called out to Pinkie as she rolled down the mountain and ducked to a nearby rock as she peeks from the corner who motions the others to follow her lead as she stealthily makes her way to town by ducking under nearby rocks while the others walk up behind her as she scoots herself under a huge rock before she and the others peeked at the village as they now got a closer look.
“This is where the map sent us? It looks like the most boring place in Equestria.” Rainbow Dash commented as they watch every pony chatting and walking around.
“It's just an ordinary village full of ordinary pony folk.” Applejack voiced her thoughts.
“It could certainly use a few more architectural flourishes. Or any architectural flourishes.” Rarity commented seeing that the village could use some more fashionable taste of decoration.
“I think it's lovely.” Fluttershy responded seeing there is no problem with what she is seeing.
“I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. I know smiles. And those smiles? They're just not right.” Pinkie suspiciously commented at the sight of the continuously smiling ponies.
“I agree.” Twilight shared the same suspicion as she eyed on the marks on everypony’s flanks. “Look at the cutie marks.” She pointed out that everypony had equal signs on their flanks.
“Okay, that's weird.” Rainbow Dash commented in agreement with Twilight.
“An entire village with the same cutie mark? How can that be?” Twilight questioned the very possibility of that.
“I bet there's some sort of horrific monster behind it.” Rainbow Dash suggested as she watched the village from afar.
“What makes you say that?” Twilight asked.
“'Cause fighting a horrific monster would be super-awesome!” Rainbow Dash excitedly dreamed of.
“Well I not sure I would say monster but definitely some sinister pony lurking around is behind this.” Twilight commented as she observed the village while feeling the need to comment on Rainbow Dash describing a potential said pony as a monster.
“I reckon we just ought to head into town and talk to some locals, find out what's goin' on.” Applejack suggested.
“Great idea, AJ. Let's go!” Rainbow Dash agreed in a dash as she flew in between Twilight and Applejack before she as flew off ahead as the others follow her.
“Those smiles are bad news.” Pinkie shared suspiciously before joining the others in heading into town.
The Mane Seven make their way into town where all of the ponies still keep up their friendly smiles as they approach them.
“Welcome.” A gray earth stallion with brown eyes greeted.
“Welcome.” A female Pegasus mother with two fillies by her side greeted.
“Welcome.” A blue unicorn pony with green eyes greeted.
“Welcome.” A pink unicorn with pink eyes and pigtails greeted.
“Welcome.” A blue pony with gray eyes and mane greeted.
“Welcome.” A brown pony with a blonde mane and pigtails greeted as her children walked with her.
“Welcome.” The fillies walking with their mother greeted.
“This must be the most pleasant place in Equestria!” Fluttershy positively commented as she flew by as another peagsus with gray fur and a white mane flew up to greet her.
“Welcome!”
Fluttershy giggled at the friendly greeting.
“Ugh. Thanks a lot, map.” Rainbow Dash groaned in boredom.
“Welcome! Pardon my forwardness, but are you an Alicorn?” A light blue furred unicorn greeted as he approached the Mane Seven and questioned Moonshine who grinned humbly.
“That there's the Princess of Friendship!” Applejack introduced her to him.
“Well, you've certainly come to the right place for friendship.” He further greeted the alicorn.
“What brings you to town?” A white pony with a matching mane and blue eyes questioned Moonshine.
“We're not entirely sure.” Twilight honestly answered.
“I see. Well, all are welcome here in our little village.” The white stallion further welcomed the six before introducing themselves as he directs a hoof towards himself and at the pony next to him. “My name is Double Diamond, and this is Party Favor.
“Howdy, Double Diamond. I'm Applejack, and this here's Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Moonshine.” Applejack introduced the whole group by pointing her hoof at each pony around her. Double Diamond them looked down at Twilight's cutie mark.
“And you all have your own unique cutie marks.” Double Diamond observed her and Pinkie’s cutie marks.
“If you don't mind, has there been any sort of... trouble here, lately?” Twilight quickly questioned.
“Trouble? Why, I don't think we've ever had trouble in our little village.” Double Diamond answered while still smiling.
“It's true. You'll see. Hm.” Party Favor added in agreement.
“Perhaps you'd care to speak to our founder Starlight Glimmer.” Double Diamond offered as they lead her in her direction.
“I wish everypony in Equestria was as friendly as these ponies are.” Fluttershy hopefully wished as she faced her friends.
“I've got my eye on them. Something's rotten in... whatever the name of this village is that we're.” Pinkie suspiciously told her as she saw the smiling ponies following them.
“Agreed.” Twilight agreed with Pinkie in the same tone. “Something is definitely suspicious around here and I think this pony we are about to meet is behind this.”
Double Diamond and Party Favor approached a door and both knock on it at the same time.
“Starlight, we have some new visitors.” Double Diamond told the pony inside as all eight ponies walk inside.
“Be ready to fight. We don't know what's gonna come through that door.” Rainbow Dash warned Applejack in a whispered tone as the pony opened the door in front of them and out from the room is a pink unicorn with a purple mane with light blue streaks and blue eyes.
“Welcome! I'm so pleased to have you here.” Starlight happily greeted the Mane Seven.
Rainbow Dash groaned in disappointment as if she was expecting somepony more dangerous.
“This is Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Moonshine.” Double Diamond introduced the Mane Seven to Starlight as she inspects Moonshine closely who grins nervously again while shaking her wings a little while recovering from her shock.
“Forgive my bluntness, but I'm assuming its Princess Moonshine? We don't get many Alicorns around here.” Starlight questioned Moonshine, who still grins nervously.
"Ha! She's not just an alicorn. She's the daughter and niece of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." Rainbow bragged, earning a hard nudge from Applejack. "Ow!"
"The daughter and niece of the Princesses, what an honor." Starlight stated.
“Yes, but "Moonshine" is fine.” Moonshine humbly and nervously responded.
“So! How did you hear of our little village?” Starlight eagerly questioned while still smiling a little creepier this time.
“It's kind of a long story. Let's just say we found it on a map.” Twilight explained the short and straight to the point way.
“Technically, it's a Tree-chest-castle-map!” Pinkie Pie happily added before her face turned back to her suspicious face as she moved away from Starlight.
“Well, however you found us, we're happy to have you! We're happy to have any pony who wants to experience true friendship for the first time.” Starlight spoke with pleasure in her voice as the Mane Seven eye each other in confusion by what she meant.
“Say what?” Applejack questioned out of confusion.
“Oh, indeed. That's what's so unique about our village, you see. Around here, we don't flaunt our special talents because we don't have any special talents to flaunt.” Starlight explained as she moved towards a nearby picture of an equal sign cutie mark and correctly readjusted it perfectly to her liking.
“Is that why you all have those cutie marks?” Twilight questioned as she points a hoof at the equal sign cutie mark on her flank.
“Perhaps it would be easier to understand if I gave you a tour of the village!” Starlight happily and politely offered with another bright smile as she stepped forward towards the door as she addresses everypony in town.
“Heads high, ponies! Marching proud! All together now! Every one of you! No pony left behind!” Starlight Glimmer marched throughout town wanting everypony still smiling to follow her lead as she begins to sing.
"Life is so grand in Our Town
We're always filled with cheer
We never have to look around
To know that we're all here.”
Starlight sang as she marched forward and then turned towards the Mane Seven as the town ponies circle around them.
“In Our Town, in Our Town
We don't have to wait
To find out that our destiny
Is just to emulate.”
The towns ponies sang as they marched around the Mane Seven.
Moonshine watched this and she felt something was definitely wrong here.. but she couldn't place her hoof on it.
“Let's see those big, happy smiles!” Starlight instructed everypony to continue keeping up their wide smiles.
“Life is a smile in Our Town
Our cutie mark's the same
Because we do not separate
Ourselves by more than name.”
Starlight sang as the town ponies marched into single file formation.
“In Our Town, in Our Town
We dare not compete
Winning only breeds the worst
Ego-filled conceit.”
The town ponies sang as two Pegasus ponies flew up to Rainbow Dash to lower her back down to the ground leaving her exasperated and insulted that these ponies see competition for ponies with overinflated egos and that it brings out the worst in ponies win or lose.
“You see? Now everypony wins!” Starlight told Rainbow to encourage her that her approach to friendship is better this way leaving Rainbow uncomfortable with that idea.
“Life is a joy in Our Town
We're all equal here
No one is superior
And no one shakes in fear.”
Starlight sang as she marched upfront and used her magic to make sure one of the mares has her mane tied up pig-tail style which Twilight took notice of.
“In Our Town, in Our Town
We work as a team
You can't have a nightmare
If you never dream.”
The town ponies sang they marched in rows of four in front of the Mane Seven.
“Other ponies argue
Do you ever wonder why?”
Starlight sang as she trots around Pinkie and Fluttershy as the former is more warm-welcoming while the latter is still frowning very suspicious at their smiles.
“When you think your talent's special
You don't see eye-to-eye.”
“There's just too many differences
That lead to disarray
But when you learn to act as one
It's like a holiday.”
Starlight sang as the town ponies danced around.
“In Our Town, in Our Town
We don't complicate
When you learn to simplify
Life is oh, so great.”
The town ponies sang as Fluttershy started dancing to the tune to which Pinkie which frowns at her to get her stop to which Fluttershy recoils in submission.
“Join in our utopia
Come out of the dark
Banded by equality
By our cutie mark!”
The town ponies sang as they formed up in single file and row and row formation with the peagsus ponies flying through with an equal sign banner.
“You're kidding, right? Give up our cutie marks? No way!” Rainbow Dash laughed off the very idea.
“Rainbow Dash, don't be so rude.” Fluttershy scolded her. “I don't think we should judge them. They all seem perfectly happy with their choice.”
“Don't believe their smiles, Fluttershy.” Pinkie quickly warned Fluttershy against trusting them.
“I'm sorry, I guess we're just a little confused by all of this.” Twilight politely told Starlight.
“We have no judgments here in our village. Each of us was confused once as well, blinded by the false promise of our cutie marks.” Starlight assured Twilight nopony holds any judgement on them.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Is she for real?” Rainbow Dash questioned as if all of this is a huge joke which earned her a glare from Twilight.
“When we were sent to this village, we assumed it was to help in some way. But, well, it doesn't seem like you need any help.” Twilight explained her reasons for visiting while still politely smiling.
“Have you considered perhaps that you might have been sent here so we could help you?” Starlight suggested as she placed a hoof on Twilight's chest. “After all, nopony has ever come to our village and wanted to leave. Why should you be any different?” She questioned the Mane Seven who look at each other in confusion.
“But that is entirely your choice. Please enjoy our little corner of Equestria. We're all quite fond of it. No doubt you will be as well. Double Diamond, please help our guests with whatever they might need.” Starlight instructed him to help them feel accommodated for their visit.
“Of course.” Double Diamond obliged to Starlight’s request who continues grinning at the Mane Seven who all look uneasy by this gesture as Starlight trotted off
As the Mane Seven walk forward with Double Diamond right behind them more town ponies greeted them while still sporting the same smiles.
“A cutie mark is a representation of a pony's unique talents and skills. How is it possible to—“ Twilight questioned the very possibility of all of this before being interrupted by Rarity’s gasping.
“What in the name of Equestria is that?!” Rarity exclaimed as she pointed a hoof at ragged brown cloaks.
“Welcome! Care to sample some local fashion? We've got cloaks this month!” The brown stallion offered to which Rarity resisted the urge to throw up.
“Wha— Ooh, er, perhaps another time, good sir, thank you.” Rarity awkwardly and politely told him as she nervously backed away as the group proceeded to sit on a nearby table “No wonder nopony's wearing anything!” She whispered to her friends.
“Really, girls!” Fluttershy scolded the girls in a hushed tone. “They may do things a bit differently than we're used to, but that's no reason to be rude.”
“No, the reason to be rude is that they all keep staring at us!” Rainbow Dash commented feeling the need to correct Fluttershy.
“Need something?” Double Diamond asked the Mane Seven from a table.
“Uh, no! We're good!” Moonshine politely told him before turning back to the girls in a hushed tone. “Fluttershy's right. If we're going to get to the bottom of why the map sent us here, we'll need the help of these ponies.”
“I think we ran off to the end of Equestria before we even knew what that map was!” Applejack complained that this is all a waste of time.
“If we were at the end of Equestria, we'd be sitting on a big 'A'!“ Pinkie Pie giggling joked as she raised her hooves up. “Get it?”
"Girls, the Tree of Harmony is a whole lot smarter than it looks. It made my Element, entrusted it to me and helped me out the biggest slump of my life. Do you really think it would send us here for no reason?" Moonshine pointed out. The girls looked at each other and they had to agree. The Tree of Harmony has done so much for Moonshine. They shouldn't have any doubt in its abilities or its reasons.
"Moonshine's right. There's something definitely wrong here." Twilight agreed.
“Is this a bad time?” The waitress pony who had listening to their conversation politely chimed in.
“We shouldn't be bickering like this in front of our new friends. Really, Applejack, you're almost as bad as Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy continued to defend the villagers while scolding Applejack.
“Don't drag me into this!” Rainbow Dash objected to Fluttershy’s comment.
“Is your friendship ending?” The waitress questioned as she faced Rarity.
“Are you crazy?! We'd never let a disagreement get in the way of food!” Pinkie Pie energetically exclaimed.
“O-kay, well, my name is Sugar Belle.” The waitress introduced herself and used her magic to lift up a notepad ready to take their order. “What can I bring you? We have: muffins... “
The group expected more items off the menu to be offered but her awkward silence clues them in that muffins are the only thing she can offer.
“Then I guess we'll take six muffins!” Twilight told her.
“Make that twelve!” Pinkie Pie eagerly exclaimed as her friends give her weird looks. “What? I'm hungry!” She defended herself.
“Come on, girls. We've got to stick together. It doesn't matter what happened before, we're here now.” Twilight spoke to her friends in a hushed tone to ensure nopony else is eavesdropping on their conversation.
“I guess you're right.” Applejack accepted. “And the sooner we figure out why, the sooner we can go home.”
At that moment Sugar Belle came back with a plate of muffins she placed in the center of the table.
“Forgive me for overhearing” Sugar Belle mentioned. “But just a moment ago you were disagreeing, and now it sounds like you're... agreeing.”
“Uh-huh...” Applejack responded with crossed hooves.
“Well, you had such differing opinions – and cutie marks.” Sugar Belle continued to speak with confusion.
“We have differing opinions all the time, darling.” Rarity answered as if it is no surprise to them.
“But you look like you're friends.” Sugar Belle pointed out.
“We are friends. A simple disagreement wouldn't change that.” Twilight positively responded which led to Sugar Belle smiling nervously at that statement before frowning as she again speaks her mind.
“I'm sorry, I'm just having a hard time understanding. Different talents lead to different opinions, which lead to bitterness and misery.” She explained before turning her frown back into a smile. “So... why aren't you bitter and...?”
Sugar Belle is quickly interrupted when Pinkie Pie chokes and spits out a muffin she had just ate “Blech!” She quickly corrects herself by faking a smile to feign politeness. “Mmmm... good...”
“It's all right.” Sugar Belle assured Pinkie she holds nothing against her for not liking her muffins. “I know I'm not a very good baker.” She admitted. “At least, I know I'm not any better than anypony else in the village.” She took a glance behind her directed at Double Diamond and quickly darted back with a sense of anxiety. “Well, I... hope you enjoy our little village!”
She began walking inside the shop as Pinkie loudly scraped the bits and pieces of muffin off her tongue. Sugar Belle quickly stopped between Twilight and Pinkie to address before.
“Come inside before you go! Meet me downstairs!” Sugar Belle told them in distress before sporting a grin before heading inside.
“Okay, that was weird too.” Rainbow Dash commented as she stretched out her hoof across the table.
“Let's all sit here and eat these muffins and act normal.” Twilight instructed the others in a hushed tone as she eyed everypony around them suspiciously. “I think we're being watched.” She points out to everypony still wide smiling at them while doing their daily business.
“You think?” Rainbow Dash sarcastically replied.
“No, not like that!” Twilight corrected. ”I mean somepony here doesn't want us talking to Sugar Belle.” She added as she pointed her eyes at Double Diamond who is watching them while biting into a muffin.
“I got an idea.” Applejack offered an idea. “But you gotta eat all of them muffins, Pinkie.”
“Me?! Why me?!” Pinkie protested.
“You got a stronger stomach than any of us, and that filly in there might be our best chance at findin' out what the hay is goin' on round here.” Applejack reasoned with her who reluctantly sees her point as she proceeds to bite into and eat all of the muffins and by the time she finally manages to eat them all her face is now sickly green.
“I can't believe you ate all our muffins, Pinkie Pie!” Applejack announced as the others look at everypony with forced smiles. “We'd best go inside and get some more!”
The Mane Six immediately head downstairs per Sugar Belle’s instructions.
“Nice work, Pinkie.” Twilight commended Pinkie as they headed downstairs as Pinkie Pie bounced downstairs with a balloon belly.
“I've accidentally eaten cardboard tastier than that...” Pinkie sadly commented over being forced to literally stomach in all of those muffins.
“Hello? Sugar Belle?” Twilight called out.
“Thank you for coming!” Sugar Belle spoke up as she emerged from the dark and sported another wide smile.
“Why did you want us to come down here?” Twilight asked.
“So nopony could see what's about to happen.” Sugar Belle answered with a smirk as some of the ponies gather around them ominously causing Twilight to ready her horn to attack in self-defense until Part Favor leaned in like a fan pony.
“Are you really the Princess of Friendship?” Party Favor questioned.
“Do you know Princess Celestia?” Night Glider questioned as she leaned in towards Twilight.
“I love your cutie mark!” Sugar Belle commented as she touched Pinkie’s flank.
“How can you be friends with different cutie marks? Don't you end up hating each other?” Night Glider questioned as she flew in front of Rarity and Fluttershy.
“Oh, look at this one! This one's great too!” Sugar Belle commented on Fluttershy’s cutie mark as she touched her flank. “I'd love to have my special talent back even just for a day! Make something besides those disgusting muffins...” She added sounding depressed.
“So what's stopping you? Go get your cutie marks back.” Rainbow Dash responded wondering why it’s so hard to do so.
“Daydreaming is one thing, but you mean actually having it put back on? That seems extreme.” Party Favor answered as he spoke.
“I'm not sure Starlight would like that. She wants us all to be happy in our sameness.” Sugar Belle mentioned.
“How do you take somepony's cutie mark anyway?” Twilight asked.
“The cutie unmarking is a beautiful experience!” Night Glider answered and recalled. “Starlight uses the Staff of Sameness to magically take them away and replace them with these.” She explained as she pointed towards the equal sign marks on her and the other’s flanks.
“But nopony should keep you from your cutie mark. It represents such an essential part of who you are.” Twilight spoke from experience.
“Oh, we're not kept from them.” Night Glider quickly responded. “They're in the vault up in the caves. We can visit them any time we like to remind us of the heartache of a life with special talents.”
"Oh, I don't know. I guess I didn't figure out my special talent yet." Moonshine replied honestly.
"But don't you friends hate you cause you don't have a cutie mark?" Night Glider asked.
"Of course not! Just because she doesn't have a cutie mark doesn't mean we'd stop being friends with her." Rainbow stated.
"Yeah, Moony is just as special as the rest of us, even if she doesn't have a cutie mark." Pinkie added. The three ponies looked at each other, confused.
After a moment of thinking Twilight asked them. “Can we visit this cave?”
Soon, the Mane Seven were lead into a mountain cave behind the village and down a tunnel. Once they got to the end of it, they all gasped seeing a large vault with multiple cutie marks locked inside of it. "Behold! Our cutie mark vault!"
"I've never seen anything like it!" Twilight exclaimed in shock.
"And here is the Staff of Sameness. It was one of the great Mage Meadowbrook's nine enchanted items. We are incredibly fortunate to have it here. This is the tool that allows us to free ourselves from our marks! I'm curious – how did the subject of the vault come up?" Starlight asked.
"Oh, I was just wondering why everypony had the same cutie mark. Ponies can still be friends with different cutie marks like my friends." Moonshine stated.
"Well, w-we certainly didn't intend to cause any disruptions to your charming little—" Rarity said nervously.
"Good. Let's just make sure of that, shall we?" Starlight Glimmer questioned as some ponies came out of the shadows. "It's a trap!" Twilight exclaimed. She teleported out of the circle and readied her magic but Starlight used her Staff and blasted Twilight, holding her in place and forcefully removing her cutie mark! "Twi!" Moonshine cried in horror as she fell to the ground.
The Starlight did the same with her friends! Removing their cutie marks by force and locking them in the vault!
“Aw. I don't blame you for what you tried to do here today. You've spent your whole lives thinking those marks are a good thing.” Starlight gloated still trying to make the whole situation still sound positive.
“Give them back!” Twilight demanded.
“Well, now you can spend the rest of your lives here with us! And we'll teach you just how much better life can be without your cutie marks!” Starlight responded as she put her staff away as the ponies who gathered inside of the cave gather around them.
"Not I have anything to say about it..!" Moonshine growled as she readied her magic. Starlight blasted her with the Staff of Sameness too.. however Moonshine's Element of Hope activated and created a shield around her!
"What?!" Starlight growled.
Moonshine then unleashed a shockwave, knocking Starlight and the other ponies back.
Moonshine quickly flew over and blasted the pieces of glass with her friends cutie marks and they returned to their owners, returning their abilities and talents to them. Starlight got up and snarled in anger at what Moonshine did. Moonshine then took off her Element of Hope and threw at Twilight who caught it in her magic,
"Girls! Get out of here!" Moonshine called.
"What?! But Moonshine..!" Twilight exclaimed but Moonshine yelled, "GOOO!" before Starlight struck her with her magic, freezing her in place. Twilight knew she had no choice and she teleported the girls and herself out of the cave.
"I've done a lot to give these ponies friendship and you're not going to ruin it!" Starlight yelled at her before she took out a jar. Suddenly, Moonshine felt a strong and painful tug in her horn and she grunted and groaned in pain as Starlight removed her magic and placed it in the jar!
Whens she was done, Starlight dropped her on the floor. Moonshine felt so weak that she could barely keep her eyes open. "You may not have a cutie mark, but you will be valuable to my cause..." Starlight said with an evil smirk before everything went black for Moonshine.
To Be Continued...
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Do Princesses Dream of an Evil Side?
One night when Moonshine was sleeping in her castle, she was sound asleep dreaming peacefully. That is until she started groaning, tossing and turning in her sleep.
She was currently dreaming about walking through Ponyville by herself, watching all the ponies happily minding their own business and giving her a 'Hello' now and then. However, the sky suddenly turned dark and gloomy and the ponies suddenly started disappearing, leaving Moonshine as the only one left in town. To her confusion, she saw a blue smokey things nearby before it slipped into the ground.
"Hello.. Moonshine...." a sinister voice came. Moonshine turned around and she saw.... herself? Only, this Moonshine was duller in color and her mane was a bit messy with some hair sticking up. "W-Who are you...?" Moonshine stammered in fear.
The Moonshine double laughed, "I'm your opposite, your evil darker side." she said. "If your mother and auntie can turn into Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon then you can absolutely turn into me; Eclipse. The better version of you if you choose to embrace the Hopeless Magic that's inside of your heart."
"N-No I'll never turn into you...!" Moonshine defended.
"Deep inside you know that your flaws will end your friendship with your friends one day. They don't really like you cause of your flaws, they just like you cause your a Princess..!" Eclipse laughed.
"Y-You're wrong..! They would never do that to me...!" Moonshine growled.
"You say that now, but you'll see that friendship is nothing more than a waste of time and that despair is more powerful than hope!" Eclipse then fired a beam at Moonshine that struck her!
"WAH!" Moonshine woke up in a sweat, breathing heavily with her heart racing. She looked around frantically, seeing that she was still in her room. Moonshine whimpered slightly before she just curled up in her bed to scared to go back to sleep.
The next morning, Moonshine went over to Rarity’s boutique so she can groom Toothless, Mudbray, Lycanroc and Rockruff along with the rest of her friends who are also grooming their pets as well.
“Ooh, this is amazing!” Pinkie Pie said as she hoped around the shop.
“Yeah, Rarity. Thanks for setting all this up.” Rainbow Dash happily added.
“A grooming day for our pets really was a great idea.” Fluttershy added in the same tone as Twilight tries to act like everything is fine.
Moonshine dark circles and bags under her eyes and her mane was a little messy, but had enough control over her magic to gently comb Toothless.
But during her daze she ended up stumbling backwards a little and accidentally fell into the bathtub where Tank is taking his bath in. Rainbow Dash quickly caught Tank as he flew out of the tub from the splash Moonshine accidentally made. She groaned as she poked her head up and out of the tub as she tries to wake herself up a bit as her friends run up to her to make sure she is okay.
“You okay, sugarcube?” Applejack asked her in concern.
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine.” Moonshine told Applejack while half-awake. “Sorry, Rainbow Dash.” She turned to face Rainbow Dash with an apologetic look. “I just quite sleep well last night.” She then explained herself followed by a yawn.
“It’s all right, Moonshine.” Rainbow Dash reassured her it’s no biggie. “Did you have a nightmare or something keeping you up last night?”
Moonshine nodded, "You can tell us if you want Moonshine.." Fluttershy cooed.
"It was horrible.. I-I was just walking through Ponyville by myself when I saw this blue smokey thing that went into the ground and turned and I saw another version of myself... an evil version of myself.." she started and the girls gasped in shock. "S-She called her Eclipse a-and she said that just give into despair and turn into her. She said that you guys don't like me cause of my flaws but because I'm a Princess, w-which I knew it was not t-true b-but.. it just.. felt so real..." Moonshine shivered as she got out of the tub. Twilight gave her some towels to dry her off.
"A blue smoke monster in your dream?" Rarity asked.
"That doesn't sound good." Applejack added. "Has it appeared before?"
"N-Never..." Moonshine stammered.
"W-Where do you think it came from?" Fluttershy questioned.
"I don't know, but there's one pony who might." Twilight said. "Spike, can you write a letter to Princess Luna?"
"Right Twilight." Spike saluted before he pulled out a quill and scroll.
"Dear Princess Luna, last night, Moonshine encounter a creature made of blue smoke in her dream which turned it into a might. I know you might be very busy, but when you have the chance, please let me know if you have any idea what it could mean. Yours truly, Twilight Sparkle.."
Spike nodded before he rolling up the scroll and breathing fire to magically send it to Princess Luna. The door immediately flew open as Princess Luna arrived…in just two seconds flat.
"Please say thous niece didn't see creature of blue smoke in her nightmare?!" Princess Luna immediately asked with worry and concern in her voice.
"Wow! That was fast." Fluttershy commented.
"Moonshine did see it Princess." Twilight said. "You've encountered it?"
"The Tantabus is a creature of my nightmares. It escaped from my slumbers yeasterday." Luna stated as she walked in.
"But how did it get into Moonshine's?" Applejack asked.
"The Tantabus is like a parasite. My dreams must no longer be enough for it. Now it seeks other to infect and corrupt. It must have learned of Moonshine from seeing her in my dream." Luna explained.
“Whoa-whoa-whoa. So what you're saying is... you dreamt about Moonshine, and not the rest of the girls and including me.” Spike asked and then sadly whimpered.
“Uh, so Smokey gave her bad dreams. No biggie.” Rainbow Dash said with no worry, but Luna shook her head.
“I saw that the Tantabus had grown more powerful, but I did not realize that power was enough to enable it to escape my dreams. If its power grows, it could very well find a way to escape into the real world. It could turn all of Equestria into a living nightmare!” She fearfully spoke as she turned around to look out the window, leaving all of the girls threatened by the danger it possesses.
“Okay, okay, okay, I take it back! That does sound bad! Really bad!” Rainbow Dash immediately spoke now fully grasping the severity of the situation.
“The only way for me to stop the Tantabus is if I enter your dreams my niece.” Moonshine nodded at her aunt.
By nighttime, Luna arrived and Moonshine led her into her bedroom. "I've prepared everything for you, Auntie Luna."
“Good. As you slumber here, I will pursue the creature into whichever of your dreams it infests.” Luna spoke as she hovered over the room, ready to act the first sign of trouble.
“Ooh! It'll be like a princess sleepover!” Pinkie excitably said as she and the other entered the room, much to Moonshine's surprise. "Twilight? Girls? What are you all doing here?”
“We're here to help you, sugarcube.” Applejack firmly answered. “We're not gonna let some smokey varmit torment our friend."
“Speaking of princesses, aren't you gonna ask Celestia for her help as well?” Twilight asked Luna as she turned her attention back at her.
“There is nothing my sister can do. She has no power in the realm of sleep. Only I can move in the dream realm. I am afraid nopony can help me tonight.” Luna answered as she turned away.
"Even us?" Applejack asked.
“Especially you. For I do not want this creature infesting any other pony’s dreams and risk the Tantabus escaping and I already have caused my niece to suffer so much because of me. She needs only slumber while I hunt the Tantabus in her dreams." Luna explained.
At that moment she felt someone tug on her mane and saw it was Spike as she turned her head in his direction.
“I know you said nopony can help, but I'm no pony! I'm gonna stay up and watch over her just in case!” Spike said as she crawled up onto Moonshine's night stand as he used his claws to keep his eyes open.
“Aw, thank you, Spike!” Moonshine said with a warm smile before she saw Toothless and her three pokemon entering the room. "Toothless, Lycanroc, Rockruff, Mudbray, what is it?" Moonshine asked them.
"Rockruff Rockruff..." Rockruff barked happily wagging his tails.
"They said they wanna help watch over you too.." Fluttershy cooed.
Rockruff leaped onto Moonshine's bed and curled up next to her. "Hehe, thanks boys.." Moonshine added.
Seeing Moonshine now asleep, the Mane Five and Spike watched as Princess Luna spreads out her wings and activates her magic. The lines of her horn glowed to reach the very tip. One glowing neon white stream appeared, attaching to Moonshine's forehead of the ones deep in slumber. A soft wind surrounded Luna as she began traveling into Moonshine's dream.
Inside her dream she can see Moonshine and her evil counterpart in the center of Ponyville. "Just except that friendship is nothing more than just a waste of time." Eclipse smirked. "Your mother and auntie don't really love you, they're just caring for you until they kicked you out onto the streets!"
"Mom and Auntie Luna would never do that to me. S-Stop thinking they would..!" Moonshine yelled.
Eclipse laughed, "I'm only saying what you thinking, Moony. I'm only saying you deepest fears that you fail to tell anypony else and keep to yourself. You fear so much and I love it! You fear that your life will fall apart with the smallest mistake you make, that's why you want to please everypony you meet, especially your friends, mother and Aunt Luna, for the fear that they might abandon you forever and you'll.. be.. nothing...!"
Luna gasped in shock, not knowing her own niece had some worst fears of her own. "So join me Moonshine and you'll always be something!"
"N-No I'll never join you or be like you ever..!" Moonshine exclaimed, shedding tears.
Eclipse laughed, "I can see that I'm right with your deepest fears, you're thinking that I might be right but you fail to accept that!" Eclipse then fired a blast at Moonshine and struck her. "Gah...!" she grunted as she fell on the ground.
Eclipse laughed before she charged Moonshine, however Luna stepped in between them, "No harm shall come to thou niece!" and she blasted Eclipse to contain her. "Auntie Luna..!" Moonshine cooed.
Princess Luna tried her hardest to try to crystalize the Tantabus in Eclipse's form but Eclipse had proven herself too powerful for her to handle as she manages to break free from her crystal prison.
Eclipse evilly laughs as she swoops down towards Moonshine who screams in horror as she is facing darkness and defeat consuming her again.
At that moment Moonshine screamed in total fear and she unleashed a large burst of magic in the room, forcing everypony to duck for cover.
When that ended, Moonshine whimpered with sweat dripping from her face from fear.
“What happened? What’s wrong?” Spike asked her as she brought her a towel to wipe the sweat off of her face as she was still breathing heavily to borderline hyperventilating still shaken up from her nightmare.
“Can’t talk about it! Too terrifying!” Moonshine spoke in between breaths with tears forming around her eyes.
“But did Luna at least catch it. Didn’t she?” Spike asked.
"I am so sorry, Moonshine. I failed. It will be back to infect your dreams the next time you sleep." Luna regretfully told everyone as she floated down from the ceiling.
“Oh, no!” Fluttershy trembled as she placed her hooves over her mouth seeing that it’s only going to get worse from here.
"Yeah. I reckon I could live without seeing that thing if it’s as terrifying as what Moonshine's says it is." Applejack said sounding relieved that she is not in Moonshine's hoof steps right now as she hands her a glass of water to which Moonshine graciously accepts as starts drinking from it.
“Thanks.” Moonshine told Applejack with a warm smile.
“But Moonshine will again and again, every night, until it grows powerful enough to infect the waking world!” Luna said as she looked out the window with deep regret. “After what I did as Nightmare Moon, the fact that I am once again responsible for harming others is more than I can bear.”
Moonshine managed to calm down now as Rockruff nuzzled her face with his wet snout. "Rockruff..." Moonshine petted her puppy pokemon.
Toothless cooed at Moonshine, before he perked up at something and growled. "Toothless, what is it..?" Moonshine asked before everypony heard a evil laugh and the doors to Moonshine's room burst open.... revealing Eclipse!
"I'm back~" Eclipse smirked at Moonshine, who looked at her in horror.
"No way! You're just the Tantabus that looks like her evil side.." Rainbow defended.
Eclipse laughed, "Oh please. I absorbed all the dark magic from that smokey creature and its now a part of me. Thanks to Moonshine's fears and doubts, I'm now as real as the Princess of the Night herself! Hahahaha....! And now I'll think I'll have some fun with my goody-four hooves counterpart!" Eclipse then coated herself in dark magic and snatched Moonshine out of her bed! "AAAAAHHHH!"
"Moonshine!" "My Niece!" The Mane Five and Luna cried in horror before they saw Eclipse smashed the window and began to make her escape....!
Toothless roared before Lycanroc, Rockruff and Mudbray jumped on his back and the Night Fury took to the sky in pursuit of Eclipse. "Wait for us..!" Twilight exclaimed before Luna spread her wings and took, Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack and Rarity in her magic and she, Rainbow and Fluttershy.
To Be Continued...
Author's Note
Story Plot: Princess Luna enlists Moonshine's help to catch the Tantabus, a creature who can turns dreams into nightmares, but when Moonshine's nightmare created an evil counterpart of herself can Luna and the Mane 5 rescue her and prevent her counterpart from turning all of Equestria into a living nightmare?
P.S If anyone wants to help me writing the story, it would be great. Sorry for the shortness, I just didn't really know how to go about with this chapter.
It's been a few weeks since the defeat of Nightmare Moon and the reunion between Celestia, Luna and Moonshine. Moonshine was very happy to have her long lost Aunt back in her life and Celestia was happy to have her sister back after 1,000 years.
Now, Moonshine and Twilight were walking through Ponyville with Spike, Lycanroc and Rockruff. "So how's your Lycanroc doing?" Twilight asked.
"He's great. Strong too." Moonshine praised, rubbing Lycanrocs' mane. "Lycanroc.." he said in a deep voice. Rockruff barked happily at his evolved sibling. "Hehehe, Rockruff wants to be big and strong like him." Moonshine chuckled. Twilight and Spike chuckled too and the group entered Ponyville... only to find it empty. There was nopony in the street. A tumbleweed rolled across the area. "Where is everypony?" Twilight wondered.
"Psst... Twilight... Moonshine...!" the girls turned and they saw Pinkie waving at them from Sugarcube Corner, "Come on.. quickly!" Moonshine and Twilight looked at each other and shrugged. They walked towards Pinkie who grabbed them and yanked them inside. "Woah!" Moonshine yelped.
"Pinkie, why are you in here in the dark alone?" Twilight asked.
"I'm not in the dark alone." Pinkie said. Some lights came on and Twilight and Moonshine saw Applejack and the other girls inside along with Applebloom. "What are you all doing in here?" Moonshine asked.
"We're hiding.." Applejack said.
"Hiding?" Moonshine questioned.
"From.. them...." Rainbow said, pointing outside. Twilight and Moonshine looked through he blinds and they could see two more creatures outside. One was a pony like creature but it wore a brown cloak with a hood, only showing her striped legs. One leg had golden rings on it. The other creature was about 26 feet long and had a 45 foot wingspan. It was black as night and had ear appendages on its head. It also had some tail fins on it.. but one was missing! The two creature turned and looked with yellow and black glowing eyes
https://m .
The ponies gasped at the two of them turned around and looked. "Will you cut that out?" Twilight asked.
"Just look at those stripes, so ghastly." Rarity said. Twilight rolled her eyes. "She's a zebra."
"A what?!" Everypony exclaimed.
"A zebra. And those stripes aren't a fashion choice, Rarity, they're what she was born with." Twilight explained and Rarity fainted.
"Born where. I've never seen a pony or critter like that in these parks, except them." Applejack said with a shudder.
"Well, they're probably not from around her and she's not a pony. My books says that zebra's come from a far away land." Twilight explained. " But I've never read anything about a dragon like that one."
"I have." Moonshine said. "It's called a Night Fury.'
"Night Fury?" Twilight echoed. Moonshine nodded and she explained, "Night Furys' are very strong and very intelligent dragons. They are part of the Strike Class of dragons, so they have blazing speed and are very powerful. They're called the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself."
"Lightning and death!" Rainbow stated. "Now that's creepy." Moonshine rolled her eyes, "But that one doesn't look menacing at all." Moonshine saw the Night Fury looking at its damaged tail with a depressing look. "What's wrong with it?" Fluttershy asked.
"Without both of its tail flukes, it can't fly." Moonshine explained. The girls gasped softly, starting to feel bad for the dragon.
Rainbow on the other hand, "Pfft, how bad can losing half of your tail be?"
"How would you feel if you lost one of your wings, Rainbow?" Moonshine asked her with a raised eyebrow.
"... Okay, fair point." Rainbow stated.
"Where does she live anyway?" Twilight questioned.
"That's just it, she lives in... the Everfree Forest!" Applejack stated and Moonshine only gave her a deadpanned stare, "And...." she trailed on,
"The Everfree Forest just ain't natural. The plants grow..." Applejack added.
"Animals care for themselves..." Fluttershy added.
"And the clouds move..." Rainbow stated.
"All on their own!" they all said in unison and Rarity fainted again. Twilight and Moonshine rolled their eyes. "And that wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil... stuff! She's so evil I even wrote a song about her!"
Rainbow Dash grumbled, "Here we go.." and Pinkie started singing her song,
(Pinkie Pie)
She's an evil enchantress She does evil dances And if you look deep in her eyes She'll put you in trances Then what will she do? She'll mix up an evil brew Then she'll gobble you up In a big tasty stew Soooo... Watch out!
The ponies just started at Pinkie while she was breathing haevily, "Wow. Catchy." Twilight said. Pinkie smiled, "It's a work in process."
"This is all just a lot of gossip and rumors. Now tell me; what exactly have you actually seen Zecora do?"
"Well... Once a month, she comes into Ponyville. Then, she lurks by the stores. And then, she digs at the ground." Rarity explained.
"Okay, I'm sorry. But how is any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit?" Twilight suggested. "And what exatcly does the Night Fury do when it comes to Ponyville, exactly?"
"Well... nothing much really." Rainbow stated.
"Do you see the dragon every time you see Zecora?" Moonshine asked.
"Actually, the dragon appeared before we began seeing Zecora." Fluttershy explained. "Wonder why?"
"Well that destroyed tail fluke might have something to do with why it came here." Moonshine stated. Moonshine looked through the blinds again and she saw the dragon trying to fly but it kept falling down onto the ground with a dejected expression on its face. "Why are you so worried about that dragon anyway, Moonshine? It's bad news." Rainbow stated.
Moonshine looked at Rainbow Dash, "Because, my books says a down dragon is a dead dragon."
"Dead?!" The girls exclaimed.
"If the dragon can't fly then it can't get away from predators or hunters." Moonshine answered. "The Night Fury won't survive unless it can fly again."
"But how are you gonna help it fly again? Make it a new tail fluke." Rainbow suggested before she started laughing.
"Exactly..!" Moonshine exclaimed, stopping Rainbows' laugh.
"WHAT?!" All the ponies, except for Appleblooom exclaimed.
"I can make him a new tail fin." Moonshine stated. "I've read about making prosthetic during my studies."
"But Moonshine, what if it attacks you?" Fluttershy cooed in worry.
"You can't judge someone based on how they look." Moonshine said, heading for the door, "Just watch." she was about to exit when she noticed a small filly missing, "Hey, where'd Applebloom go?"
Applejack and the girls looked around and saw the filly no where to be seen, "The doors' already open!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"And Zecora and that dragon critter are gone!" Applejack added. "Applebloom must have followed them!"
"We've gotta get to her, fast!" Rainbow said and the girls rushed out of Sugarcube Corner. Moonshine, Lycanroc and Rockruff were the last ones to leave. "Ready to help a dragon, guys?" she asked them.
"Lycanroc.."
"Ruff..!"
Moonshine smiled and three followed the six mares to the Everfree Forest.
Inside the forest, Applebloom was following behind Zecora and the dragon creature. She gulped nervously until she heard Applejacks' voice, "Applebloom!" she gasped and turned to see Applejack and the others standing in a field of blue flowers. "There you are, Applebloom." Moonshine called as she and her pokemon came along. They were about to step into the blue flower field when the Night Fury gasped and bounded over and snatched Moonshine away from the flowers. "Woah!" the dragon got her away from the blue flowers and Zecora stated, "Beware! Beware, you pony folk! Those leaves of blue are not a joke!"
"Y-you keep your creepy mumbo-jumbo to yourself, ya hear?" Applejack called to her. Pinkie and the others called to her as well as Twilight rollied eyes. Zecora vanished into some fog calling, "Beware.. Beware..." Zecora stated.
"Yeah, back at ya, Zecora! You and your lame curse are the ones who better beware!" Rainbow exclaimed. Applejack turned to Applebloom, "And you! Why couldn't you just listen to yer big sister?"
"I...I..." Applebloom stammered.
"Who knows what kind of nasty curse Zecora could have just put on you?" Applejack scolded.
"You guys, there's no such thing as curses!" Twilight pointed out.
"Well, that's interesting to hear coming from Miss Magic Pants herself." Rainbow scoffed.
"My magic, real magic, comes from within. It's a skill you're born with. Curses are artificial, fake magic. It's conjured with potions and incantations; all smoke and mirrors meant to scare. But curses have no real power, they're just an old pony tale." Twilight explained.
"Just you wait, Twilight. You're gonna learn that some pony tales really are true." Applejack stated.
"Well I believe Twilight and you shouldn't have been so hard on Applebloom, Applejack." Moonshine stated.
"What?" Applejack stated.
"Applebloom just wanted to try and get to know Zecora before jumping to conclusions like somponies." Moonshine stated, eyeing the Mane 5.
"What do you mean 'jumping to conclusions'?" Rainbow asked.
"I mean you're making assumptions based on gossips and rumors which is not the way to get to know somepony or creature." Moonshine explained.
"Oh yeah... prove it!" Rainbow challenged. The Night Fury dragon came over to Nightshade and warbled at her with a curious look on its face. "Hey there, big fella..." she cooed, reaching a hand out to it. The Night Fury purred and placed his snout onto Moonshine's hoof. "There we go..." The Night fury warbled at Moonshine and nuzzled her. Moonshine turned to the girls who were jaw dropped. "I arrest my case.." Moonshine smirked before she walked away with her pokemon and Night Fury in tow.
Moonshine was walking back through town with the Night Fury in tow, "Don't worry boy. I'll make a new prosteic fin for you. Then, you'll be able to fly again. How does that sound?" The dragon roared in joy and playfully tackled Moonshine, licking her face. "Hahahaa...!" Moonshine laughed. "Okay, okay, I get it."
The next monring, Moonshine was sleeping in her room with the Night fury, Lycanroc and Rockruff by her bedside when...
"MOONSHINE!"
"WAH!" Twilight's cry sent Moonshine jumping out of bed and scaring her pokemon and dragon friend awake. Twilight came into the room and Moonshine gasped, seeing her horn covered in blue spots and droopy, "What happened to your horn?" she asked.
"I don't know but there;s something wrong withe girls too." Twilight stated.
"Huh?" Twilight lead Moonshine downstairs where she saw a tiny Applejack, Rainbow's wings were upside down, Rarity;s fur and mane were completely tangled, Pinkie's tounge was out of her mouth, covered in blue spots too and Flutershy.... seemed fine? "What's wrong with Fluttershy?" Moonshine asked.
"I don't wanna talk about it." Fluttershy said in a deep male voice, much to her shock.
Spike, on the other hand, was laughing. "This is Hilarious! Look at all of you! We got: Hairity, Rainbow Crash, Spitty Pie, Apple Teeny, Flutterguy, and... uh... I got nothin'... Twilight Sparkle. I mean seriously, I can't even work with that."
Twilight sarcastically laughed too, "This is no joke, Spike. Now start looking for more books so I can find a cure!"
"I think we'll find a cure to this curse at Zecora's place!" Rainbow said, trying to flying with her upside-down wings.
"It's not a curse!" Twilight dismissed.
"I agree with Dash! We'll go to Zecora's and force her to remove this hex!" Applejack exclaimed.
"It's not a hex either!" Twilight added. Moonshine and Applebloom, meanwhile, looked at each other. “Oh this is all my fault.” Applebloom said.
“No it’s not, Applebloom.” Moonshine reassured.
“You really think so?”
Moonshine nodded, “I think it has something to do with that plant they all stepped into yesterday. But... I have to make sure.” Moonshine then quietly walked out of the library while the girls were arguing with each other. Lycanroc, Rockruff and her dragon noticed her leave and followed after her.
In the Everfree Forest, Moonshine was walking with her pokemon and dragon in search of Zecora’s hut. Rockruff had picked up her scent from yesterday and tracked it to a large hut in the forest. “Woah...” the hut had some bottles hanging from some of its branches and it looked really big. Moonshine came and knocked on the door.
The door opened and Zecora looked at Moonshine.
“Ah, one of the other ponies from the day,
“Hi Zecora, I’m Moonshine and this is Lycanroc and Rockruff and I believe you already know the dragon.”
The dragon warbled at Zecora.
“Ah yes, the Night Fury; so strong and true
Moonshine nodded. “Yeah. Can we come in? I wanted to ask you something.” Zecora nodded an fallowed the group of four to come into her hut. Inside there were shelves filled with potions and bottles along with some masks as well as a small cauldron in the middle of the room.
“Now what is the problem you have spoke of
“It’s more than a cough. Zecora. They all seemed to have these weird happenings occurred to them. Applejack is tiny. Rainbows wings are upside down. Rarity’s fur is tangled. Pinkie’s tounge is large and blue spotted, Fluttershy’s voice turned deep and Twilight’s horn is covered in blue spots and droopy. I think this all has something to do with that plant they all stepped in yesterday.”
“What you’ve concluded is right
“Oh... so that plant just played a few tricks on them.” Moonshine realized. Zecora nodded.
“Is there someway you could help them, Zecora?” Moonshine asked her. Zecora nodded and she went to her small bookshelf and she pulled out a book, “This holds the answer you seek,
Moonshine flipped through the book and she found a remedy bath that would cure the effects of Poison Joke. “Thanks Zecora. Could you try and make the cure for my friends?” Moonshine asked.
“Making the cure; that I will,
“So that why you were digging your hooves into the ground yesterday?” Moonshine questioned, getting a nod from the zebra. “... And what about the dragon? My friends said that it came here befor you arrived.”
“The Night Fury was injured in a crash
“Hey, don’t worry, boy. Remember I’ll make you a prosthetic fin.” Moonshine reminded. The Night Fury smiled and nodded at her. “Now about this herb in Ponyville. I believe I can help you with that.” Moonshine smiled.
Meanwhile, the girls were still arguing about what to do about Zecora whole Twilight was searching her books for a cure. “No no no no no! None of these books have a cure! Ugh! There has to be a real reason for this! An illness? An allergy?!”
“A curse!” Rainbow exclaimed.
“I said a real reason. Something that points to something real .” Twilight deadpanned.
Spike the found a green book, “How about this one?”
"Supernaturals "? Spike, the word supernatural refers to things like ghosts and spirits and zombies, which are as make-believe as curses. This book is just a bunch of hooey!”
“But what if you're wrong, Twilight? What if this really is a-“ Spike started but was cut when they heard Rainbow exclaims, “Zecora’s back!”
“What?!” The girls exclaimed.
“And she’s got Moonshine with her!” The girls all gasped and raced outside of the library and they indeed saw Zecora and Moonshine, her pokemon and dragon companion. The girls came up to the pair, “Moonshine! Get away from her!” Rainbow exclaimed.
“Yeah, she put this horrid curse on us.” Rarity added, blowing some of her fur out of her face.
“Zecora didn’t put a curse on you.” Moonshine replied.
“Then how do you explain this?” Twilight asked, pointing to her horn.
“It’s because of that plant you all steeped in yesterday. It’s call Poison Joke and it played jokes on you all.” Moonshine explained.
“Huh?” The girls asked. Spike then came up with the same book from before, “She’s right. Twilight. The book you said was a load of hooey actually has the plant, the effects and the cure for it.” He showed Twilight and the girls the page and the girls realized they had been wrong all along.
“I.. I’m so sorry, Zecora. I had the answer the whole time if only I bothered to look inside.” Twilight said in a disappointed tone. Zecora chuckled.
“Next time you should take a second look,
“Zecora’s gonna make you girls a remedy bath to help cure the poison Koke but she needs an herb from Ponyville.” Moonshine explained.
“I think we can help with that.” Twilight grinned.
Soon, the girls were at Ponyville Spa taking a drop in the remedy bath. Moonshine was relaxing with her pokemon and dragon friend.
Dear Princess Celestia, My friends and I all learned an important lesson this week: Never judge a book by its cover. Someone may look unusual, or funny, or scary. But you have to look past that and learn who they are inside. Real friends don't care what your "cover" is; it's the "contents" of a pony that count. And a good friend, like a good book, is something that will last forever. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle
The remedy bath cured the girls of their Poison Joke effects and they all dried off before going over to Moonshine, “Moonshine, we’re sorry we didn’t believe you before.” Twilight apologized.
The other girls gave their apologies too. “It’s okay, girls.” Moonshine smiled. The Night Fury nuzzled her, “So what are you gonna name this fella?” Applejack asked.
“Hmm.. I haven’t really thought of a name.” Moonshine replied. The Night Fury then opens its mouth revealing pink gums, “Huh? No teeth?” Twilight stated.
“So he’s Toothless?” Rainbow added before teeth popped out from his gums. “Woah!”
“Retractable teeth, amazing!” Fluttershy gasped.
“Toothless.... that’s a good name for him. Toothless it is then.” Moonshine declared. Toothless warbled at her and nuzzled her with a smile on his face while the girls watched with smiles of their own.
