The Equestrian Civil War

It was a normal day in Canterlot. Raising the sun wasn’t a problem for Celestia, and the citizens went about their business.

Inside the castle, Princess Luna was walking through the Castle Gardens, with her guards by her side. She sighed with boredom. She needed something to do. Being the younger Princess meant everything important was done by her sister. Except raising the moon, that was Luna’s sole responsibility. Apart from that, she couldn’t do anything.

Oh, but that’s what her sister wanted, wasn’t it?

Luna silently cursed. She wasn’t a child anymore. The 1000 years she spent on the moon matured her.

You know you could always fight back. You do know that, don’t you?

No, she wouldn’t succumb to that voice. It was the voice that possessed her to revolt against Celestia. That was the voice that had made her evil, the voice of Nightmare Moon.

She shook her head. She needed to just keep that voice quiet, and she stayed herself. She needed only to think of how beautiful today was, or how exquisite the hedge figures were.

Don’t try and fight me. You know I will get out of this mental prison. There’s no use resisting. Fight Celestia. She’s been repressing you, along with everypony else. She’s a dictator. You won’t be fighting for you; you’ll be fighting for Equestria!

“No.” She said audibly. The guards came up to see what was wrong, but Luna held up her hand, signaling that she was alright.

She cursed again under her breath. The voice was never this loud, this, convincing.

No! Luna needed to keep her composure.

“I will be heading to my quarters.” Luna said. “You are dismissed.”

The guards nodded, and Luna went to her room.

Once she was inside, the voice of Nightmare Moon only got stronger.

You know what I say is right. You know you want to.

No, she thought, I am Luna. I am not Nightmare Moon.

Ah, you sound so cute. But you know who you are. You’ve always been Nightmare Moon, and you know it!

Luna then went to her knees, pulling at her hair in frustration. This bout was one of the worse ones she has.
She went up to a mirror, and she looked horrible. Her hair was out of order, and her eyes were red.
Suddenly, the voice inside her head became her real voice.

Her figure grew, and her hair longer. Her voice grew deeper, and soon, she was Nightmare Moon again.

“Your Highness,” a guard said from behind the door, “We heard a lot of noise. Are you alright?”

“Damn,” Nightmare Moon switched to Luna’s voice, saying, “Oh, I just stumbled. I’m fine.”

There was no response. Nightmare Moon looked out of her tower to see Celestia looking through a telescope.
Nightmare Moon would have her revenge. And whether or not she succeeded, there would be blood, lots of it.

***

Twilight Sparkle closed her book. She sighed, and walked outside to get some fresh air. She walked into the Ponyville Market, where Applejack was selling some apples.

“Well hiya Twilight!” Applejack greeted, “Whatcha up to?”

“Just getting some fresh air,” Twilight brushed her hair out of her face with magic. “How’s business?”

“Well ah think it could be a bit better, ya know?” Applejack replied, “Ah’ve only got a few bits today.”

“Really, that’s weird.” Twilight said. “You usually have lots of customers.”

“Ah know!” Applejack threw her arms up in the air. “Somein’ ain’t right Twilight. But ah just don’t know what.”
Right then, Rarity and Fluttershy walked up to Twilight and Applejack.

“Hey,” Twilight greeted, “What’s happening you guys?”

“Oh nothing much,” Fluttershy replied, “Rarity was just helping me find a dress for a party for relatives in Fillydelphia.”

“Oh, I’m not helping that much!” Rarity said, “I’m just telling you what doesn’t work for you.”

“But Rarity,” Fluttershy replied, “I really liked the green one.”

“Green is not your color, Flutter.” Rarity said, “You are more of a light pink, my dear.”

“Oh alright,” Fluttershy said, “You do make dresses.”

“So, Applejack,” Rarity said, “How’s the stall doing?”

“Not so good, y’all,” Applejack sighed, “Ah haven’t made much money at all.”

“Oh,” Rarity said, “But you’ll make more as lunchtime comes.”

“Speakin’ o lunch,” Applejack said, “Ah am pretty hungry. How ‘bout y’all come over and have some of Granny Smith’s apple pies?”

They all agreed. The four friends made their way over to Sweet Apple Acres, where Granny Smith was making some of her famous apple pies. They dug in, and they talked about why Fluttershy needed to go to Fillydelphia.

“Oh,” she said, “There’s a wedding there, and I need to attend. It’s nothing special, really.”

“Then how about we come with you then?” Rarity asked, “You know how you get when you travel alone.”

“Oh that would be great!” Fluttershy beamed, “Thanks.”

“Anytime Fluttershy,” Twilight said, “It’s been awhile since we left Ponyville. Especially after the virus, it’s been a few months.”

“Oh please,” Rarity said, “Can we not talk about that? It was the most horrid time of my life.”

The memories of the Zombie Pony Virus seeped back into their minds. They had trekked across most of the central Equestrian cities, including Manehattan and Fillydelphia. They had seen the full power of the Orbital Friendship Cannon; a weapon of mass destruction, used on Manehattan. They had defeated Discord, who was responsible for the plague, with the Elements of Harmony.

“How would y’all like some apple fritters?” Granny Smith asked, “They’re fresh out of the oven.”

“Thanks Granny Smith!” Twilight said, “I’ll take one for Spike. You know how he gets.”

“Oh you’re quite welcome.” Granny Smith smiled. “Y’all can have some too.”

So, the four friends took some apple fritters. When Granny Smith offered them, you never, ever, refused.

“Well, ah gotta git back to the stand.” Applejack said, “See y’all later.”

And the friends parted ways. Twilight walked back to her tree house, to find a letter waiting for her inside.

“Spike,” she called, “Who’s this letter from?”

“I don’t know, Twilight.” Spike said, “I didn’t read it.”

Twilight lifted it with magic effortlessly, and opened it. She began to read it aloud for Spike.

“Dearest Twilight,” she read, “I, Princess Celestia, do request you and your friends’ presence in Canterlot. There is a festival for Princess Luna’s birthday, and she requested you all by name. The celebration is in three days, giving you just enough time to pack and get here by train. Sincerely yours, Princess Celestia.”

“We’re going to Canterlot?” Spike asked.

“I guess we are, Spike.” Twilight said, already packing her things. “You pack; I’m going to tell the others.”

“Alright, Twilight,” Spike said, “I wonder why Princess Luna wants us there.”

Twilight shrugged, and walked out of the tree house. It had been awhile since they went to Canterlot, not since they were awarded medals after the plague over six months ago. She walked through the streets of Ponyville, until she found Pinkie Pie bouncing down the street.

“Hey Twilight,” Pinkie said, “What are you doing?”

“I was looking for you.” Twilight said, “Princess Luna has invited us to go to Canterlot for Luna’s birthday celebration.”

“A party?” Pinkie nearly went into orbit she jumped so high. “I love parties! Are we going? I would hate it if we didn’t go. So are we?”

“Yes, yes,” Twilight chuckled, shaking her head, “We are. If you could tell the others, I need to help Spike with packing back at the tree house.”

“Okie dokie loki!” Pinkie said, bouncing away. She was so happy that she was going to a party. It had been almost a week since she threw one, a new record. She ran to Applejack, and told her the news.

“A party?” Applejack said, “Of course ah will come! Ah wouldn’t miss it for the whole darn world, Pinkie.”

“This is so exciting!” Pinkie said, “I can’t believe that we’re going to a royal party! Do you think there will be cake? What about cupcakes? And pie too?”

“Ah think there will be enough to starve even you, Pinkie.” Applejack laughed.

Within an hour, she had told everypony except Rainbow Dash. She couldn’t find her anywhere.

“Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie called, “Where are you? I can’t find you anywhere!”

She saw a rainbow form over the mountains, and saw Rainbow Dash fly across the sky.

“Hey Rainbow Dash!” She jumped up and down at an unbelievable pace, “Come down here! Can you hear me? Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes when she heard Pinkie Pie tell her to land. She pulled up into a climb to slow herself down, and went down into a shallow dive. She landed on the ground in front of Pinkie Pie.

“What is it?” She asked, crossing her arms, “I was kinda in the middle of something.”

“Oh Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie beamed, “We’re going to Canterlot! We’ve been invited to Luna’s birthday party!”

“Good for Luna.” Rainbow Dash said, “When are we leaving?”

“Tonight, silly filly!” Pinkie Pie laughed, “It takes two and a half days to get to Canterlot, remember? And the party’s in three days!”

“I guess I have to come.” She said, “Maybe I’ll do a Sonic Rainboom for Luna.”

“Alrighty then!” Pinkie Pie jumped up and down, “Go pack, we’re leaving in a few hours! I’m so excited for this! Aren’t you Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah, thrilled.” Rainbow Dash replied. She didn’t like Canterlot parties all that much. It was always too stuck up for her taste. But, if Luna invited them by name, it might be a little fun.

Rainbow Dash flew up to her house in Cloudsdale, and opened a suitcase. She packed a few days of clothes, and a few Daring Do books. She was flying past a shelf, when she stopped, and opened a box.

Inside the box was a loaded Colt M1911 pistol. She picked it up, and checked to see if the safety was on. She looked at it, and the notches on the grip. That showed the number of Zombies she had killed with this weapon.
She put it, and two other magazines, inside the suitcase. She figured it would be prudent to carry some protection with her. With all the crime in Canterlot, a mare like her could use a pistol like that to good use.

She finished packing. She laid down on her bed, next to her suitcase. She sighed, and picked up a Daring Do book. Daring Do and the Adventures in the Trot-Along Valley it read. Trot-Along was the largest Eastern Equestrian city, apart from Stalliongrad and Neighjing.

She had already read this book, but she opened it at page one and began reading regardless. She had read almost every Daring Do book, and waited anxiously for the next one to come out.

When the sun started to go down, Rainbow Dash put down her book, and flew over to the train station, where she met up with her friends.

They were all sure it was going to be a great party, and a memorable one. But they didn’t know how memorable it would really be.
***

Nightmare Moon chuckled in her Luna form. She had everything about Luna, but Nightmare Moon was still in control. Luna had requested a birthday party months before, and the time Nightmare Moon took over couldn’t have been better.

All she needed was a crowd, so that she could reveal her plans to all of Equestria.

Tell me what you think with a comment! This is the sequel to The Trotting Dead, as you could already tell. I think the way Nightmare Moon took over Luna was a cool scene, but you are the judge. This story is going to be really fun to write, and it is going to be much longer than its prequel. Just so you know, the ponies are in anthro form, but they have human characteristics, apart from their coat and mane color and Cutie Mark. Just thought I should let you know. Next chapter: the Mane 6 arrives in Canterlot for the party. What does Nightmare Moon have planned? Find out in the next chapter!