Cantervania: Symphony of the Nightmare

Nightmare Moon stood, surrounded by darkness. She used her magic to ignite a candelabra on a nearby table illuminating the room in a pale green glow. She sneered and glared at the intruder.

The Princess stepped forwards. “Nightmare Moon.”

They stared daggers at one another. The only sound was the magical fire flickering, slowly dying. Luna narrowed her eyes at her second half, her darker half.

“Your reign is finished.”

The Queen smirked. “Because you say so?” Her voice dripped with venom and malice.

“It ends,” Luna growled, “in the name of the Moon.”

Nightmare Moon bared her fangs. “It endures in the name of the Moon.”

“I failed to stop you from consuming me before.” Luna closed her eyes and breathed outwards. “I understand that we were unfavoured by Equestria, but it is wrong to live in an eternal darkness.” Her eyes opened, the pocture of forgiveness. “If you come with me we can-”

“Unfavoured?” The Queen sneered. “The only future Equestria has is an eternal darkness. While you were too weak to take what was rightfully ours, I have conquered all of Equestria, and my subjects adore me.” She threw her head back and cackled, spreading her black wings.

Luna sighed. “I won’t let you commit any more atrocities, Nightmare Moon.”

The Queen lowered her head as her laughing faded. “You couldn’t stop me before.”

Luna’s mouth broke into a small smile. From behind her, Tempest Shadow and Twilight Sparkle stepped into the light, their eyes focused on the Queen.

“I was alone, before.”

Twilight’s horn blazed with magic, while Tempest’s broken horn crackled and fizzed with lightning.

Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes at the three of them and smiled coyly.

Luna readied herself and lowered her horn. Wings spread, she lunged forwards, pinning Nightmare against the wall with her horn. Books tumbled off the shelves with the force of the impact. Cracks appeared in the wall and a portrait of the two sisters fell down.

The Princess furrowed her brow in frustration as she realised the Queen was simply holding her horn a mere millimetre away from her chest.

Unflinchingly, and with little to no effort still grasping Luna’s horn, the Queen of Darkness pushed her backwards and strode forwards. Her hoofsteps fell heavy and deliberate, a juxtaposition to her elegant and sleek form.

Luna grunted as she struggled to hold herself steady. She glared up at Nightmare Moon and retracted her horn. She swished left, the Queen dodged. When she swung right, the Queen raised a hoof and caught the horn, blocking the blow as if it were nothing. With her other hoof, Nightmare she struck her enemy across the face, sending her careening into the cabinet at the far side of the room.

She regarded her lesser self with utter disdain and turned to the remaining ponies.

Tempest grunted and rushed forwards, her head lowered. Twilight stood behind her and began casting a spell. Nightmare Moon crouched slightly, then lunged forwards with great intensity and speed, slamming Tempest out of the study into the corridor and against the wall.

The Shadow wheezed as she crumpled to the ground in pain. Nightmare looked down at her, then glanced backwards at the glow behind her. She used a wing to cover her eyes as Twilight Sparkle’s magic fired in a concentrated beam of energy.

Twilight moved around to get a better angle, grimacing as she felt the strain of magic on her head. She gritted her teeth and focused her magic, determined to help her friends.

The Queen hissed. “You must be Celestia’s student...” her eyes narrowed as she thought about her brother, now far away in a frozen wasteland and smirked quietly to herself. “What a grand and intoxicating innocence you have, child.”

Twilight’s blood ran cold as the black mare strode through the beam of energy, taking a direct hit without caring or flinching, and closed the distance between them. With fangs bared, the Queen raised a hoof to strike her attacker. “Where is your precious princess now?”

Twilight yelped and quickly cast a shield around herself. The Queen’s blow still sent her reeling, however, and caused her to slip out of consciousness. Her eyes fluttered lightly and her nose bled from both the strain of the magic and the blow from Nightmare.

Tempest Shadow looked up at Twilight’s unmoving body. “Twilight!” she cried out and rose to her feet. She rushed towards Nightmare Moon and began to swing her hooves. “Get away from my friend you bitch!”

Nightmare Moon grunted as the blows glanced off her. “I remember you. From Canterlot,” she sneered, casting her memory back to her appearance in front of the church.

“The Shadow. Slayer of monsters, devils and demons, correct? I’ve heard of your feeble order.” With a quick strike of her hoof, she slammed into the pony’s side. She then used her magic to grasp the unicorn by the throat and began to squeeze. “Pathetic. Die now, like you have slaughtered my children and my servants.”

Tempest struggled in her grasp and lashed out with her hooves, her strength quickly fading.

As the world began to fade, she saw blur of movement in the corner of her eye. Nightmare Moon noticed it too, and raised a wing in defence. She released the unicorn, who dropped to the floor and continued to gasp for air.

Princess Luna charged forwards, driving her horn into Nightmare Moon’s wing, causing the Queen to cry out in pain.

Twilight stirred at the Queen’s cry, and winced as she stumbled to her feet. The wounds around her waist ached, and threatened to burst for the second time since she entered the castle. She saw the princess grapple with the Queen and rushed forwards as quickly as she could. She pointed her horn and blasted a beam of light right into the black mare’s face.

The Queen of Darkness growled and grunted in pain as Twilight’s magic continued to blind her. Her eyes watered with the blinding intensity of the light and angled herself towards Luna. The magic bounced and reflected off of the Queen, and Luna felt her eyes stinging as the magic spilled out over her.

Twilight gasped and paused casting her spell. “I’m sorry Luna-” She started.

“No!” Luna yelled, her eyes watering and seeing spots. “You should have kept going!”

The Queen saw her opportunity, and smacked the small unicorn with her hoof, causing her to slam into a wall with a tear inducing crunch. Twilight fell to the ground in a huddle, crying out in pain. Blood began to pour out from a few of her injuries around her waist.

Nightmare Moon rounded on Luna, still stunned from the sudden light blast. She grabbed onto the Princess with both hooves and flapped her wings, rising high into the air. Her eyes were as black as night as she threw her enemy to the ground.

She growled as her power swelled, snarling at her opponents before her. “You fools cannot hope to best me. Surrender now, and I will be lenient enough to give you a quick death.”

With a flourish of her head, her starry mane cascaded over her head, the stars within twinkling like their counterparts in the sky. Her horn lowered, pointed and wickedly sharp.

Although in pain from the fall, Luna answered by sending a blast of magic at the chandelier above them, causing it to collapse onto the Queen’s back, sending her crashing to the ground. Twilight coughed as dust billowed around from where the Queen landed, and covered her eyes.

“Never.” Luna’s voice dripped with venom as she defiantly rose to her feet.

“Never again will anypony bow to you, Nightmare Moon.”

Nightmare Moon shrugged off the heavy chandelier like it was nothing. She sneered and glared at the three of them. Her gaze fell on the slayer standing opposite her, smirking arrogantly, her broken horn glowing with black energy.

Twilight Sparkle unsteadily rose to her feet and watched as the two faced off. Tempest Shadow’s horn grew dark, and the whites of her eyes turned grey, then black. The colour ran into her veins, criss-crossing her face like lightning. With a blast of eldritch power, she fired at the Queen.

A back fire engulfed Nightmare Moon. She gasped for air and grunted while her fury grew. “Anti-magic?” She hissed. With a flap of her wings she dispersed the smoke around her. “Well played, Shadow... But I am no ordinary pony of Equestria.” Her voice trembled with fury and her body shook with rage.

Tempest’s eyes returned to their normal colour, the veins receding once more and she retreated, watching the Queen with fear.

“I am not some common animal that can be felled with even the darkest and most powerful magics.”

Her eyes blazed with anger and her wings unfurled to their full extent. Her lip curled upwards in a twisted smile. The corridor darkened with her immense power as the trio braced themselves.

“I am Nightmare Moon. Queen of Darkness and Supreme Overlord of Equestria and beyond. And I have had enough!” the Queen bellowed, and slammed her great hooves down onto the ground, cracking the stone around her. The shockwave resounded throughout the castle, startling some servants on the lower levels and causing the crows in the rafters high above to shriek in terror.

Nightmare Moon’s horn ignited in a blaze of dark magic. A great swirling ball of eldritch magic as black as night, and hurled it towards our heroes down the corridor. Wallpaper and paintings alike turned to cinders as the magic swirled past them.

Twilight darted forwards and cast a magic shield around her friends. She winced as the Queen’s magic collided with her own.

“I can’t… hold it…. Much longer.”

She started to slip backwards, the force of the magic pushing her off her hooves.

Tempest moved quickly as she wrapped her legs around her friend, digging her back hooves into the ground and preventing them both from slipping away. They shared a nod as she braced herself on the cold stone floor.

Luna dashed next to them, bolstering Twilight’s magic with her own and placed her own hooves on the unicorn’s back, adding to the reinforcement. Slowly, but surely, the shield began to repel the dark magic. The alicorn’s horn lit up with her own magic as she stepped forwards and pointed her horn at the centre of the death ball.

Nightmare Moon grunted in anger and sent another wave of magic towards them.

The three stood as one, flank to flank, against the Darkness of the Queen. Light versus Dark. Good versus Evil. With a shove and a heave, the three’s combined magic finally began to repel the darkness.

Nightmare Moon roared with rage as her magic came soaring back at her.

Princess Luna left her friends’ sides and charged forwards, piercing the ball of eldritch magic with her horn. Her wings flapped and caused great gusts of wind, almost knocking Twilight and Tempest over with such force. With a great push, both Princess and Queen snarled at each other as Luna pierced the magical ball, and drove her horn and her hooves into the Dark Queen, forcing her through several feet of rocks and stone, far into the castle.

Tempest lingered behind as Twilight sank into the floor, panting for air and exhausted from the struggle. The Shadow placed a hoof on the young pony’s head and tousled her mane. “Not bad, filly,” she murmured with a smile.

Twilight managed a smile but was too tired to speak. The wounds on her sides ached, and her horn glowed softly with residue magic. She attempted to rise to her feet once again and stumbled.

“Shh,” Tempest soothed as she caught her friend. “You’ve done enough, let us deal with this.” Her eyes smiled although her mouth did not. “If only more ponies had bravery like this one,” she thought as Twilight shakily stood on her own legs. She chuckled softly. “There wouldn’t be much need for Shadows.”

As Twilight stood she gazed at the hole the alicorns had made. “No. We came in here together, we leave together.” She looked at the Shadow and smiled. “As friends do.”

Tempest couldn’t help but smile back. She nodded towards the other end of the corridor. “I think we’ll have to find our own way to them then.”

Twilight nodded in agreement. “I used to come here quite a bit, I think there are some stairs over there.”

The pair of them set off through the strangely empty castle. Portraits seemed to watch them as they ran, and the occasional rumble sounded throughout the castle.

***

Luna continued to push Nightmare Moon through room after room after room.

Her eyes blazed with light as they struck each other, blow after blow.

As they shattered through some glass, she realised they were in the old observatory. She remembered how she’d used to come here after raising the moon and watch the stars. She swung a hoof at Nightmare Moon, connecting with her jaw, and turned her gaze upwards towards the sky. There she saw the Moon, and the image of Celestia engraved onto it as the Mare Within. She felt her heart grow heavy as she rounded on her opponent.

“Nightmare Moon we must stop this, can you not see what you’ve done?” she desperately asked as her flings flapped, holding her in the air. She gazed at the dark mare, her eyes heavy with emotion. “Let go of your anger, I beg you...”

The Queen wiped a smear of spittle from her mouth and glared up at the Princess. “You have Celestia’s arrogance,” she murmured and curled her lip. She flapped her wings and charged towards her adversary.

Luna sighed sadly and gritted her teeth, raising her hooves in defence.

The room rocked amidst their blows and countless expensive telescopes and other equipment smashed and shattered. The air around them seemed to ripple with each forceful punch, kick and blast of magical energy.

They fought one another with a flurry of blows, one dodging and countering and the other striking hard and fast, taking turns trading what would be fatal blows to ordinary ponies. To anypony else, they would resemble mere blurs as they moved with supernatural speed. With a growl of pleasure, Nightmare Moon noticed her opponent begin to weaken and gained the upper hoof.

She used her magic to grasp the alicorn, and hurled her through a window, onto the roof of the castle. The clouds above darkened, seemingly sensing the Queen’s anger as they swelled and burst, drenching the two ponies.

As Nightmare Moon advanced, Luna gritted her teeth and used her speed to attack. Moving faster than the naked eye could see, she struck the Queen again and again. Her wings strained as she flew through the air, quickly attacking before Nightmare Moon could move.

The Queen narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her ears swivelled as she listened. Her sharpened senses and inherent magic allowed her to listen to each and every raindrop as they landed. She heard them hit something behind her, and spun around, horn lowered.

Luna gasped as Nightmare Moon caught her with her magic. The Queen’s eyes were solid black, a sign of just how dark her soul had become, twisted by years of grief and anger. Her forked tongue slithered out from her teeth once again. “Something you wish to say, Luna?” she taunted as the alicorn struggled. Lightning crashed down around them as the rain fell upon then, drenching them to the bone.

“It’s not too late...” Luna grunted as she raised a hoof. “Please...”

Nightmare Moon’s face twisted and she screeched with fury. She slammed the Princess onto the ground with her magic repeatedly. She raised her up as the Princess stopped moving, and drove her hoof into her former self’s jaw, sending her crashing through the roof into an unknown corridor

The Princess groaned as she landed. Blood leaked from her mouth, and her face was wracked with pain as the Queen’s blows took a heavy toll on her body. She struggled to stand, her muscles arguing against her brain, begging her for release as they were viciously exercised.

Another blow came from Nightmare Moon, sending the Princess several feet backwards. The Queen quietly advanced on her, hissing in fury. She drove her hoof into the alicorn’s face time and time again, revelling in the brutal beatdown. As Luna backed up against a door, her lip quivered and her breath came short.

Nightmare Moon slowly raised another hoof, and struck her opponent with such force she shattered the door, and sent the princess crashing into a wardrobe.

Luna crawled forwards and groaned in pain as the Queen advanced. A small pool of blood formed underneath her.

Nightmare Moon stood and watched her with disgust and wiped her lips, she stared at her bloodied hoof and snarled. “You’re weak, Princess Crawling around in your own blood. Pathetic.”

Luna turned over and looked at her. Although in great pain, she felt one last ounce of strength in her body. Her eyes showed intense anger but also great sadness. Pity even. “You want me to destroy you…” she mumbled.

The Queen slammed a hoof down. “Do I?!” she raged. “And why pray tell is that?”

“Because I know... How lonely you truly are... I know how it feels to be so alone…”

This gave Nightmare Moon pause. Her lip twitched as she shook with anger. “You don’t know me, how could you possibly know?”

Luna solemnly laughed. “Oh but... I do know, Your Majesty. You are me after all...”

She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing. She could feel her life force slipping away. She had to fight for a few moments more. For her friends. For Equestria. For her sister. For herself.

The Queen roared in her face and slammed both hooves on the ground on either side of her head.

The Princess just chuckled and spat out a glob of blood. “See?” She looked up into the Queen’s eyes blearily. She held a hoof over her chest and felt her own warm blood for the first time in over a thousand years. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the embrace of death. “I am sorry... My friends... I failed...” she murmured softly.

Caught off guard by her words, Nightmare Moon trembled with hate as her lip curled backwards, revealing rows of her sharp teeth. Her breath was dogged, her muscles atrophied from their duel. She hadn’t even exerted herself like this over a thousand years ago when she first faced Celestia.

Celestia.

Her sister’s kind eyes graced the Queen’s mind. She shook her head and prepared for the final strike.

Celestia, again.

The Queen gave a low hiss and gazed upwards, through a shattered window towards the Moon.

Emotion flooded her very being, and Nightmare Moon’s eyes widened as she stepped backwards. Her wings dropped around her, and as the laboured breathing of Luna became the only sound, she looked around the once familiar room, realising where they were.

“This was our room…” she murmured quietly. She absently walked away from the Princess, still lying on the ground.

Luna forced herself to sit up and opened her eyes, watching the Queen sadly. “We were... Happy once.” Her voice was just as ragged and dogged as the Queen’s. She knew neither of them could last much longer. “When we were children...”

Nightmare Moon caressed a drawing she’d stuck on her wall over a thousand years ago, a crude child’s drawing of herself and her sister when they were fillies, growing up in the very walls she was now destroying. She remembered they used to play together. The games they made for each other when their parents were ruling Equestria. How her sister would help her sneak out of he castle late at night to visit the gardens. She stopped as she gazed upon a small necklace made of daisies, in a small glass dust covered case.

“My sister made me this… Celestia...”

Nightmare Moon picked up the case and blew the dust off of it She glanced up and caught her reflection in a nearby shattered mirror and recoiled in horror. Her eyes changed from the blackest night to her usual cyan, and her once lizard-like eyes returned to ovals. She looked back at Luna and mumbled quietly to herself.

“What have I done?”

Luna’s eyes softened as she realised this was not the end. “It isn’t too late… to change… Nightmare Moon...” She unsteadily rose to her feet and stood eye to eye with the Queen. She took a deep breath and stared at her nemesis. “I can help you. You’ve been so blinded by your unchecked rage... Your thirst for vengeance... That you never even saw the truth.”

“What truth is that?” The Queen asked quietly. Her heart beat fast and dread, something entirely alien to the Queen of Darkness, filled her soul. She felt her magic slipping as the rain outside began to slow. Her hate, centuries of hate began o fade

“That you are alone, and afraid...”

They looked at each other. The Princess’s breath slowly returned to it’s natural state, and her blood ran into her coat.

Luna extended a hoof and offered a smile, however forced it may seem or feel, she knew she had to try, or die trying. “But now you’re listening to me… we can rebuild…”

The Queen shook her head and scowled, waving Luna’s hoof away. “You were holding us back!” She slammed her hoof down. “We would never be respected or loved in old Equestria.” Her anger began to swell again, however fleeting it may have felt, it felt good to her. Familiar.

Luna regarded the black mare sadly. “Perhaps you’re right, but you think we’re stronger this way? Look around you, Nightmare Moon.” She gestured to the room, the shattered walls, the splintered floors. “Neither of us will survive this should we continue to fight. We’re broken. We can’t go on like this.”

Nightmare Moon gazed out the window at Equestria. She saw hordes of bat-like creatures moving on the wind, and the far off lights of cities in the distance as ponies most likely sang and made merry, despite their situation. Her anger finally faded completely as she realised she was defeated.

“If… we unite…” she asked quietly, “won’t I fade? Become.... Diminished?”

The Princess nodded. “I-”

The door crashed open, interrupting them. Tempest Shadow and Twilight Sparkle entered the room and saw the two standing opposite one another. Tempest’s horn ignited as she stepped in front of Twilight. “Get back, Luna, I’ll finish this now.”

Luna simply smiled, while Nightmare Moon scowled and bared her teeth.

“Tempest Shadow,” the Princess began, and raised a hoof to stop her friend. “Your bravery in the face of death is commendable. Your actions speak louder than any words.” She crossed the room and took the mare’s head in hers and planted a kiss on her forehead.

Tempest stood in shock. “What?” Her voice wavered as she remained frozen in place, the magic in her horn rapidly fading, “What’s happening here?”

Twilight put her hoof on Tempest’s back and shook her head, silently telling her friend to not interfere as Nightmare Moon watched them enviously.

“And you, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna continued, turning to the purple mare. “Truly, Celestia could not ask for a more honourable student, and your friends are blessed to have met you.”

Twilight blushed and gave a small bow.

Luna smiled and raised her chin. “I could not have made it this far without either of you. Equestria is truly in your debt. For that I thank you. I thank you both, so much.” She smiled and turned back to Nightmare Moon. “Are you ready?”

“I… don’t know,” the Queen replied. Her voice was cracked and hollow, like all the will to live had been sucked out of her. She felt empty inside.

“You have to be. We have to. For Equestria.”

Nightmare Moon gazed into the eyes of her counterpart and thought about Shining Armour. She smiled softly as she repeated his mantra. “For Equestria.”

They each lowered their horns and touched the tips, then, lifted by an unseen and powerful magic, they rose into the air together. They both began to glow with a holy light.

Twilight and Tempest each covered their eyes as the light grew to a blinding intensity.

With a heave, Nightmare Moon’s body began to crumble into dust, and her mouth opened and her spirit began to wind into and through the air, seeping into Luna’s opened eyes and mouth. The Queen of Darkness faded into the wind, and soon only Luna remained as the light dimmed.

She landed with a heavy breath. A moment passed before she winced in pain and turned to her friends.

“Princess? How are you feeling?” Tempest asked, still tense. She felt Twilight’s leg wrap around hers as they waited with bated breath.

Luna nodded. “I am... Complete... More than that. For the first time in a thousand years I... Am myself.” She inspected her hoof and flexed her wings. “The feeling is… strange.” She turned to her friends as her eyes sparkled with tears.

“Strange as in... Good?” Twilight hopefully asked as she gingerly stepped forwards.

The Princess smiled. She gazed out the window at the Moon, still shining bright. “I have something I must take care of. The world shall remain in darkness no more.”

Wings still outstretched, she opened the window, and like a rocket she shot up into the night sky, her horn glowing with celestial magic. She came to a still in the middle of the sky as the clouds began to clear. Her horn still shone brightly, and slowly, dawn finally broke out over the world.

Tempest and Twilight watched as the Mare in the Moon disappeared, and the Sun’s golden rays once again graced the world.

Far below, creatures of the night shrieked in terror and fled to the dark depths of the world. The few vampires that remained in Canterlot shrieked and crumbled into dust as the light touched their foul skin.

The nocturnal animals of the world returned to their nests and their homes, allowing the critters of the day to once again frolic.

Plants stretched upwards and trees craned their tall trunks towards the Sun, begging for sunlight.

And ponies all across Equestria slowly left their homes, blinking in confusion as they stepped into the light. In all the cities of Equestria, hooves began to stomp and voices rose up in great cheers of joy.

Shining Armour and Cadance gasped as they watched the sunrise and held each other. Shining vowed to return as soon as possible and find his little sister, or visit her grave. Cadance vowed to go with him, and swore the Crystal Kingdom would provide aid wherever necessary.

Rarity and Spike rushed outside as they gazed at the sunrise. Like their neighbours around them, they cheered and hugged one another as tears freely fell. Rarity comforted Spike as he began to worry, hoping Twilight was okay. She gave him a small kiss and told him chin up, and they’d catch up with her very soon as they went back inside and immediately started to pack.

Applejack, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash all whooped and cheered as they too watched the sunrise from their shared home. They embraced each other and dashed out, Rainbow nearly carrying her friends in such excitement towards the nearest train station.

Pinkie Pie and her partner in crime, the famous pony party planner Cheese Sandwich, immediately began to plot the biggest, super-duperest, most spectacularly spectacular party Equestria had ever seen. They embraced and giggled as they drew up plans, before realising they suddenly needed to be on the move.

The ponies of Ponyville, all living in various places of the world, began to pack up their things and begin their journey home with tears of joy and relief in their eyes.

In Canterlot, in the streets below the castle, some ponies offered up prayers to the Dark Queen in forgiveness as their captors vanished and fled in the sunlight. Fresh horrors still on their minds, they quietly closed the windows and huddled together in fear.

In a tavern with no name, several drunk ponies squinted upwards. The bartender with one eye and few teeth grunted something in annoyance and wiped his bar down.

Her mane sparkling in the sunlight, and her wings fluttering lightly, Luna flew down to her friends and stood with them. She looked out at the Sun cresting the hills, far across the horizon and smiled.

“Princess Luna...” a warm voice called.

Twilight’s ear twitched. “I know that voice...” she murmured as excitement crept into her voice. She gasped and pointed as a pony began to materialise before them. She gasped again and fell to the floor in a deep bow as the Princess Celestia craned her neck and stretched, and her wings fluttered as she looked around the room.

The unicorn yanked Tempest’s neck downwards and gestured to bow, pleading silently with her eyes. The Shadow rolled her eyes and obeyed, grumbling to herself as she bowed before the Solar Princess.

Celestia’s eyes twinkled as she looked down at her younger sister, who prostrated herself. She reached down and nuzzled her gently. “My dearest sister, it has been one thousand years since I have last seen you. I fear I must begin to make amendments, and apologise to you.”

Luna quickly stood up and looked her sister in the eye. “No, Celestia, it is I who must apologise. If I had not... If I...” tears welled up in her eyes as they gazed at one another. “I’ve missed you...” she mumbled as she sputtered and rubbed her nose.

The elder sister wrapped a hoof around her younger sister’s neck and drew her into a warm embrace “I’ve missed you too, Luna, can you ever forgive me?”

“Of course I can, can you ever forgive-”

“Of course I can.”

Celestia smiled and wiped her eyes. “Now,” she turned to the other two ponies in the smashed room. “Twilight Sparkle.” She reached down and nuzzled the filly at her hooves and smiled, warm and kind, radiant like the Sun itself. “I knew you would not fail, my faithful student.” She cupped the pony’s face in her hoof and gazed at her.

Twilight sheepishly rose and smiled, her cheeks blushing. “Thank you, Princess, but I couldn’t have done it alone.” She pointed to the Shadow beside her, who remained quiet and averted her eyes. “Tempest here helped me so much. She’s... Well...” she balked as Tempest shot her a look.

Celestia regarded the Shadow coolly. “Tempest, was it?” She asked quietly.

Tempest nodded. “Yes, your highness.”

“And you are a Shadow, correct?”

“Yes, your highness.” Tempest gritted her teeth and felt her temperature rise, and expected immediate banishment, or worse. What she didn’t expect was a hoof wrap around her neck and pull her upwards into a large hug.

“You are always welcome in Equestria, as is the rest of your order, Tempest Shadow.”

Tempest felt her heart melt, and glanced at Twilight who beamed with pride. “Thank you, your highness.” she said quietly, and sniffed her nose.

Luna chortled and wiped her eye. “Sister, we have... Much to discuss.”

Celestia released tempest and smiled at the three of them. “Indeed Luna. There is. For now, we must send the word out that Nightmare Moon has been vanquished, and announce your return, my dear sister.”

The younger princess grimaced. “I fear Equestria’s reaction, Celestia... What if they...”

Her sister nuzzled her tenderly. “The most assuredly will,” she joked. “And I will support you no matter what may come, as I should have done one thousand years ago.” She looked at her student again and smiled, her eyes watering with pride. “You are true heroes of Equestria, Twilight Sparkle and Tempest Shadow. You will stay for a while in Canterlot won’t you? Your brother will be most happy to see you, Twilight.”

Twilight slapped her forehead. “Shining Armour! I haven’t seen him since before all of this began, I hope he’s-”

Luna cut her off and her face fell. “He is in the Crystal Kingdom, Twilight,” she stated.

The unicorn’s face fell as she looked at her quizzically. “What? How? Why?”

“Nightmare Moon grew fond of him, and allowed him to leave her service to join the newly crowed Crystal Queen, Mi Amore Cadenza.”

Twiligth shook her head in disbelief. Her mind reeled as she took in the princess’s words. Shining was alive! But who was this queen he was now serving? “Queen who?” she asked as she tilted her head.

Tempest cuffed the back of her head and scoffed. “The Vampire Princess of the North? Daughter of King Sombra, the most vicious and bloodthirsty vampire in all of Equestria? Come on Twilight you said you read ancient history for fun.” She rolled her eyes. “Sometimes known as Cadance to her fri-”

“Cadance?!” Twilight exclaimed, cutting her friend off as relief washed over her. “She was my old foal sitter! Oh if Shining’s with her then-” Her blood ran cold as she realised what Tempest had said. “She’s a... A v-vampire?”

“Don’t worry, Twilight, they seemed rather fond of one another. I’m sure he will be alright.”

Celestia chuckled softly. “It seems I have missed much, you will fill me in won’t you Luna? Let us return to my study, and start getting this mess cleaned up.”

Luna nodded and chuckled herself as she wiped tears from her eyes. “I will, sister. Come, Twilight, I shall explain on the way.”

The four of them started off through the damaged corridors of the castle. Luna felt good to laugh with her sister once again, finally feeling at peace within her soul. The Princess wondered if Twilight still thought she felt like a cold and icy lake, as the small unicorn began to frantically interrogate her about Shining and Cadance, and she recalled all that Nightmare Moon knew.

Tempest lingered back for a moment and retrieved the dart from her pack when they turned the corner. She turned it over in her hooves several times before pocketing it once again, and gazed out at the sunrise, knowing she was not quite finished yet.

Twilight’s head popped around the corner and called out to her. “Tempest are you coming?”

The Shadow nodded and trotted onwards, rushing to catch up with them. She laughed at their jokes and swapped stories. Her thoughts remained dark, however, as she remembered those luminous green eyes laughing at her.

***

Ponyville once again bustled with life as Twilight and Tempest strode through the crowd. Nopony there seemed to pay them mind, save for a few recognising Twilight and wishing her well. Several ponies just stood and wept, openly basking in the warm sunlight once more.

Twilight smiled and nodded and wished the same back. She noticed a few familiar faces still hadn’t appeared, and her face fell slightly. The Shadow next to her nudged her and smiled. “Why so glum, chum?”

The purple unicorn gave her a shocked look.

Tempest grumbled and her cheeks turned red. “Fu--you know what, forget it. You’re worried your friends aren’t here?”

Twilight nodded. “I guess I should have known they wouldn’t come back, I’m sure they’ve all moved on and found happiness wherever they are...”

The Shadow spotted five familiar mares approaching them over her friend’s shoulder and grinned. She whistled and drew in breath through her teeth. “Yeah... I’d say the same thing.” She kicked a dusty rock away and looked down at the mud. “Why would anyone come back to this place? It’s filthy.” She grinned as she saw Twilight’s ear’s flatten as she took the bait.

“Sure it’s muddy, but have you seen the rest of the world? Ponyville’s a snice a place as any right now.” The lavender mare scowled, still not noticing the giggling mares behind her. “Besides what gives you the right to just-”

Tempest snorted, grin still fixed on her mouth. “Come on Twilight, this place is terrible, and your friends didn’t even show up? Come on, what a joke I don’t believe you.”

Her smile faltered as she saw tears sting in her friend’s eyes. She shuffled awkwardly as she got several stares from the ponies around her.

“If you really feel that way then maybe you should just leave,” Twilight muttered as she rubbed her eyes.

Tempest sighed and leant in close to her. “Twilight I-”

The unicorn spun around and planted a kiss on her friend’s lips, startling her. She pulled back and watched in horror as her friend winked at the group of mares, and they all gathered around and laughed together.

Tempest felt time slow down as she realised she had been had. She leant back and sat her haunches down as she glowered at them all. “You were faking those tears,” she said matter of factly.

“She sure was you silly filly!” Pinkie Pie giggled as she grabbed her friends and drew them into a large hug. “Tempest get over here get in this!”

The Shadow reluctantly shuffled forwards, avoiding the look in Twilight’s eyes. Applejack’s sturdy hoof swung out and grabbed her, drawing her into the group hug.

“Twilight darling we absolutely must catch up-” Rarity began as they separated.

“TWILIGHT!” came an excited voice from behind them. They all turned and smiled as a small dragon charged forwards. Twilight rushed up to him and swept him up in a hug and dotted kisses over his face.

“Oh Spike I’m so glad you’re okay!”

He bawled his eyes out as he clutched at her. “I--was--so--worried--about--you!” he cried between sobs.

She felt the tears fall from her own eyes as she cradled him. Tempest watched on sadly, her embarrassment melting away as she gazed at the unicorn holding her small friend. She smiled to herself and chuckled softly. A few times she made to move, then stopped herself and bit her lip.

Fluttershy noticed her and smiled at her as she approached. “Um, Tempest was it?” she asked.

Tempest nodded and looked at the pegasus’s knowing face. The rest of Twilights friends hadn’t noticed her plight, why had this pegasus? Her brow furrowed as she hid her emotions. “It is.”

“Well, it seems to me that you really want to tell Twilight something. Maybe you should, in case something happens and you can’t say it.” Fluttershy beamed as she spoke. Her words filled Tempest with confidence, and a small sense of dread at the same time. The Shadow curtly nodded and walked up to Twilight, and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

“Twilight... Can we talk?” she asked. Twilight nodded in response and tapped Spike gently on his back.

The dragon released his sister and smiled up at the dark mare, wiping the tears away from his eyes and rubbing his nose. “Thank you, Tempest, for keeping her safe!” he cried as he wrapped his claws around her legs now.

Tempest grimaced and tried to shake him off as the mares around them giggled.

Rarity tapped him on the shoulder and gestured to leave. “Come on, Spike, we should give them some privacy.”

He reluctantly let go and gave Twilight another hug. “I’m so happy you’re okay, Twilight,” he murmured again.

She patted him on the back and gave his forehead another kiss. “As am I, Spike.” Twilight smiled as he trotted off, catching up to his other friends. She turned to Tempest and smiled as the strong mare bashfully looked down at the ground.

“Twilight... I...” she mumbled quietly. Her cheeks reddened once again as she thought about how tender the unicorn’s lips were.

Twilight’s heart fluttered as the Shadow leaned in. “Yes, Tempest?”

“I... I’ve been meaning to ask you, um...” She cursed herself for being so suddenly shy. She shook her head and looked away. “Never mind.”

Twilight felt her face visibly drop as the Shadow turned, and pawed at the ground. “Oh... Okay.”

They looked at each other with equal pats shyness, and something else. More than friends.

They slowly moved closer to each other and rested their foreheads together. Tempest used her eyes to gesture towards the library. She wiggled her eyebrows as Twilight began to blush.

“If you want to,” she whispered to her young friend.

Twilight nodded and placed her hoof on her friend’s face, giving her a kiss just below her broken horn. She smiled as they held each other, and started to make their way to the library’s door, away from prying eyes.

***

Twilight Sparkle gasped as she lay beneath the sheets of her bed. She poked her head out and gazed at the pony beside her as she gathered up her things. Her eyes wandered over the pony’s body and reached a hoof out sadly.

Tempest spotted her awake and stroked the mare’s hoof tenderly, giving it a light kiss before she returned it and smiled. She turned, and began to pack up her bag.

“You’re sure about this, Tempest?” asked Twilight as she watched her friend saddle up, stretching in her bed slightly. “I have more than enough space here for you if you want to stay.” She tapped the pillow next to her and blushed lightly.

Tempest shook her head as she began fastening her armour back on. Her eyes traced over the unicorn’s body and she fought an urge to remain, for five minutes or even the rest of her life. “I appreciate the offer, really, I do.” She turned to the window and gazed at the setting sun. “But I’ve troubled you long enough.”

Twilight shook her head. “You haven’t been any trouble at all.” She paused and looked a the messy sheets on her bed. “Well maybe a bit,” she chuckled, “but the point still stands. You’re my friend, and friends-”

“I know, Twilight. I was being polite.” The Shadow sighed as she fastened her cloak around her, it’s familiar weight giving her heavy heart a slight comfort.

“The truth is... I don’t belong here, in a nice town like Ponyville, with... A pony like you.” She turned to her friend once again and gazed into her eyes sadly. “I spent so much of my life being angry, because of what was done to me, my family...” She trailed off.

“I’m still not sure who I am without that anger. I don’t even feel comfortable using my real name yet. I need to figure out where I belong in this world... A lot of ponies still don’t like Shadows.” She offered a melancholic smile at her friend.

“I understand.” Twilight smiled back, her eyes shining with tears. “Are you sure we can’t persuade you to let us throw you a going-away party though?”

“Nothing in Equestria would make me more uncomfortable.” Tempest paused, remembering the events in the Canterlot castle, and in the great library. “Well, almost nothing.”

They laughed together and Twilight touched her face tenderly, stroking her gently. The Shadow smiled and gave her a light kiss. She breathed in her friend’s scent, and made sure to memorise it. “Lavender,” she thought with a smile.

“Pinkie will be disappointed.”

Tempest nodded solemnly as she drew back. “Tell her I’m sorry, would you? And tell everypony else I said goodbye?”

“You haven’t said goodbye yet,” Twilight pointed out and grinned. “You’ll come back won’t you?”

“Of course.” Tempest straightened up and looked her friend in the eye. “I’ll always remember I have friends in Ponyville. I’ll always remember you.” She straightened herself up and bowed low, her nose inches from the ground.

“Twilight Sparkle. It has been my dearest pleasure saving the world with you. Hopefully we meet under nicer circumstances next time.” She smiled once more and checked her equipment before pulling her hood over her head and turning to leave. Twilight’s hoof reached out and stopped her.

“Tempest, wait.”

The Shadow turned back and raised her eyebrows. Her eyes lingered on the mare in front of her.

The young unicorn grabbed her and pulled her forwards into a tight embrace and gave her lips a tender kiss. “Take care of yourself, okay?” she said as she pulled away.

Tempest glared but smiled and caressed he mare’s cheek. Her lips felt so soft and warm, she hated the thought of not being around her, and wished she could stay. She felt something in her urging her to move on, however. Her work was not yet finished.

“You too, Twilight.” She coughed as her cheeks reddened and a smile crept along her face. “Take care.”

She turned to walk away but paused and looked back. She turned back and puffed her cheeks out, contemplating giving up her dark secret.

“Fuck it.”

She sighed and shrugged, and turned back to her friend and leant in close, clanking around for anyone who might be listening.

“If we’re going to do this, then you should know my real name... It’s... Fizzlepop Berrytwist.” she mumbled.

Twilight craned her neck and twisted her ear. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you very well.”

The Shadow rolled her eyes and repeated herself, feeling her cheeks redden. ”Fizzlepop... Berrytwist.”

“Again, please I can’t-”

“Fizzlepop. Berrytwist.”

Twilight’s eyes widened as she broke into a large smile. “That’s your real name? Tempest--Fizzlepop, that’s a fantastic name!” She snorted and began chuckling to herself. “I’m sorry, it really is! I just expected you to have something with a bit more...” She shrugged and giggled.

“Yes, yes laugh it up, Toilet.” Tempest glared at her and rolled her eyes. “If I catch wind of anypony in Ponyville using my name, Twilight Sparkle, I will hunt you down and feed you to some timberwargs.”

Before too long her face also broke into a large smile, and sooner still that smile turned into a long, happy laugh. They hugged again and made their way down the stairs.

They shared one last kiss before Tempest set off, Twilight waved her goodbye from the front door of her library and watched as her friend disappeared into the darkness of the Everfree Forest once again. She saw the rest of her friends approaching from the other way, and put on a smile as she went to greet them, apologising for disappearing again so suddenly, as Applejack and Rainbow Dash smirked at each other, clearly in the know. Fluttershy beamed and asked Twilight if she was coming back. With one final look towards the Everfree, she spotted a flash of red hair amongst the dark trees and smiled.

“I think she will, Fluttershy. I think she will.”

She smiled as Pinkie bounced forwards, almost screaming in excitement about the party she and Cheese Sandwich, who she explained was now her partner in all party matters ‘and beyond’, were planning for Ponyville.

Tempest Shadow looked back at the sleepy town and wondered how bad a mistake she was making in leaving Twilight Sparkle, as she watched her go with her friends. As a twig snapped and a growl sounded behind her, she slowly turned, and saw a scarred and angry timberwarg bearing it’s fangs at her. She grinned joylessly as her horn began to glow.

“Hello you,” she muttered as it leapt towards her.

With a blast of lightning, the beast’s corpse lay a mere pile of charred wood.

The Shadow gave Ponyville one last look before setting off into the dark forest.

Tempest Shadow wandered for hours before she broke through the thick trees, and slowly made her way down the muddy trail, searching for another adventure.

The Sun shone high above, it’s warm glow illuminating the world.

The nightmare was over. Dawn had come.