When the darkness comes

My old world is dead. As I watch from atop of a hill, as the village I was supposed to protect burn to the ground. The men who burn the village begin to chase me. I run as fast as I could. I ran into woods, hoping they don't follow me there. I look behind, only seeing there terrible red eyes. My legs begin to hurt from all the running, but I didn't care at all. They killed my friends, the villagers. The ones I was supposed to protect, but I failed them, I failed them all.

I stop near a riverbed, almost exhaustion from the running. Luckily the river leads up to a nearly cave that I can take refuge in. I lie down on my knees and formed my hands so they can get water. The water was so refreshing to my mouth, that I nearly pass out until... I saw the river turned red. I coughed up the water and stand up. I look at the west end of the river and started seeing... bodies. I covered my hands in horror and begin to run.

Fearing they might found me, I head towards the cave. It wasn't long When I reach there, it was very dark and water was slowly dripping out of the stalactites.

I lie down and rest. It was quite uncomfortable actually to lay in this position.

I watch as Mother Nature was doing her thing: the slowly connection of a stalagmite and a stalactite. It was amazing seeing the two connect. It only takes days for them to connect, but it only took a matter of hours, possibly due to the planet weird ecosystem. By now, It was getting dark and I was getting sleepy. I begin to hear gun firing, they sounded close. I got up and move deeper into the cave. The cave was dark, but luckily there was bunch of matches in my pocket. I still couldn't see dame thing in there. I was worried I might get bitten by a bat, or shake, or something worse. I walk deeper into the cave, before I was stop by a door. I was in shock and disbelieve. How did this door get here? What does it lead to? I keep question myself, but no answer. I put my hand on the door. It was soft, but a bit rough and it was sold cement.

I keep thinking that I should open the door, but I don't know what at the other side. I move my hand with the match, examining the door. There was stone paining on it. From what I can tell from this stone-craved paining, it's showing a group of Natives of this planet on their knees worshiping a dark....horse.

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From my point of history, I know that a tribe lived here long ago; they worship these two horse gods named Soleil and Caelum. Even, the native’s society was the closest equivalent to Greek society: architecture, the arts, machinery, culture, but their gods were different, very different.

I mentally laughed at myself when the Alliance almost pisses itself when another species was related to one of our dead civilizations. Ah, where was I, Oh yes the gods of the navies? From the alliance and council standpoint, they were skeptical of this alien ‘Greek civilization’. Am I getting off track again, ha, ha, ha sorry?

They worshiped these nigh gods that they believe created the universe. The other gods were servants of the horse gods that I mention earlier. They foretold that the gods teach the natives how to live with harmony and make peace with all the tribes, well until the unknown setters came. At first, the tribes greeted the setters with open arms, but as more setters came and began losing their land. The tribes abandon their teachings and went to war with the setters.

The war ended badly from the start. The setters, having the technological advantage, were able to wipe them out. The survivors disbanded and scatter to the wildness in order to escape the setters’ wrath. As I examined more of the stone carvings on the door; after much debate, I have come to my contusion that this door leads to another planet. At first, I think that was a crazy idea of teleportation of planet to planet.

Even though teleportation is widely used by the Citadel governments’ and the Systems Alliance to move solders and supplies to dependable colony worlds, there has been slight problems with the technology. One of the problems involves the distance of the teleporting; there has no problems with the tech when teleporting goods across continents and worlds, but system to system are another story or teleporting to a planet in another system.

Teleportation, when active can take a lot of power to operate the complex machine. There has been several experiments on improving the tech, but has led to many deaths and major accidents. So there was no point sticking around in this much longer, but this door, it giving this weird feeling. The back part of my mind is telling me to open this door, but I have to leave now. My family needs to know that I’m alive.

But as I was about to leave, I heard voices. They were coming from the far end of the cave: the entrance. My god! They found me. I panicked. I search for another way, but there were no passage-ways or holes at all, but only the door itself. I told myself not to open that door. It was crazy thinking behind that door, there might be some universe. But the voices were getting closer I can hear their footsteps. I had no choice. I approach the door; I noticed there were no handles, so I push. I push hard as I can. The door finally open, there was a bright light. I can feed its warmness against my cold, cut, and bruise body. I covered my eyes so I can see what’s at the other side. The light was too bright for me, but I walk towards the light. As I approach the light, I felt a burn on my arm. I rub my arm, At first, I thought it was just a bug bite, until I move my hand from my shoulder to only see.... blood.

I look back, only seeing nothing in the darkness. I heard some footsteps. I panicked and I yell. “Who is this, show yourself!" there was no one there. I didn't understand how I got a bullet in my arm. Than I heard another gunshot; this time it landed near shoes. I step back. Than I made the biggest mistake in my life; I tripped. I landed into the light. The inside of it was hot. I can feel my sweat trickling down my face. The light made me all comfortable. I felt dizzy. My eyes were beginning to close. I tried to stay awake, but it was hopeless I quickly fell sleep, worrying that the stranger with the gun might tried to kill me in my sleep. I had entered into a deep sleep. I didn't know how long I was out, but when I regain conscious. I was falling... from the sky.

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I was completely freaking out and bloody hell it was dark, I could barely see the ground. Luckily, there were two backpacks, one on my left arm, and the other (I presumed to be the parachute.) on my back. I search the bag on my left arm, hoping to be the parachute. I unzip the bag, but it wasn't a parachute, it was my stuff. 'I don't even remember bringing my stuff, hell, I don't remember bring this'. I though. My laptop was in there, my 21st century iPod, and… a picture of my bondmate and my three.... daughters. I felt devastated after I saw that picture. I sigh and look down. The ground was still very dark but my eyes were already adjusted to the dark. I see that I will land in forest…but I can’t take this cruse anymore. I want to die. There was no reason I should keep living, my life has no purpose.

But something...inside my mind told me to keep on living. I had no idea where the voice was coming from, but it kept repeating these words: "Don't give up, your there only hope." I don't know what that mean? Was she talking about my family, my country or this world? I finally open my eyes. I was shocked that I was only 50 feet from the ground. I quickly search the other bag. As I expected, it was the parachute. I pull the handle. The parachute was finally released. I rub my hand across my forehead in a sigh of relief. I had face death many times before, but this time it was close.

As I glide through the skies, I can see a village. It looks very medieval like. I have finally landed near a forest, well not on the ground at lease. But in the branches of a tree. I took a few hits from the branches, but nothing serious. So, now I am hanging from a tree in middle of a dark and spooky forest at night time. Great what next a giant monster is going to come out and maul me to death. I wish I hadn't said that.

As, I begin to unbuckle my parachute. I heard something.

I stop what I was doing and look around. I could hear the branches from the trees being crushed, the sound of giant footsteps approaching. ‘OH, BY THE SPIRITS!' I thought. I was completely fucking scarce of my life. The footsteps were getting louder and closer by the minute. I quickly look into my bag; finding anything that could help me defend myself. I keep digging in my bag; I finally found a weapon. It was a pistol, well an old M-6 Carnifex from the twenty-second century to be precise. I dig into my bag again to see if there any thermal clips. I only found 3.

Quickly, I loaded my pistol and started scanning the area with my pistol for the creature. I look around for a full five minutes before it a roar. I stop looking to my left, and started looking at the breast. I can't believe what I am seeing; A FUCKING MANTICORE.

I still can't fucking believe it. They’re… real, but they only existed in Persian mythology.

But still how is it...possible. I started to breathe heavily, but slowly. I snapped out of my thoughts when the creature started to move. I look straight at the monster eyes, trying to establish dominance, but it failed. The monster can notice fear in my eyes. It roars again and goes into attack position. I pointed my gun at the manticore. It let out another roar and started to charge.

BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG

I fire my weapon four times, hoping that I can kill the creature legs and make a run for it before any of it friends coming for him. But that plan quickly fell apart, the manticore quickly dodges my shots and the monster swings of it claws at me. I close my eyes, hoping this is the end of me and this nightmare. But instead of killing me; it aim its claw at the parachute. I guess it didn’t want its prey being held up in a tree before the kill. With a thud, I had hit the ground. The manticore was now close to me. I can smell it’s horridly breath.

I aim my pistol near its throat. My arm was shaking; the manticore had taken notice of my pistol; the monster slams me at the tree and swings its claws right into my chest. The moment the monster plunged it sharp claws into me, my life flash through my eyes: The day I was adopted, the day I entered the military, and the first time I met my first…love.

The pain was fucking unbearable.

I can feel my blood on my right hand as I attempted to get the manticore claw out of my chest, but it was no use.  The claw was well place in my chest; tearing up my insides right this moment. My ribcage torn apart; tears streaming down my face, the end is near for me. I’ll soon see my wife again soon. The manticore let out another monstrous roar as it swings it’s another claw towards my arm. I scream as loud as I could that someone could come and help me, but no came. I was facing death soon. But not without taking the manticore with me; I again stare straight at the manticore.

Its eyes are bleeding red and I can tell it piss off. “You think you can take me out, you ugly son of the—“before I can finish my sentence, the manticore let roar, this time he reality pissed off. The monster plunged it teeth near my neck. I let out another scream, a scream I swear that anyone with thin a 5 mile radius could hear. I was too weak to fire my gun, but I have too. I use all my strength to move my towards it head. Luckily, it didn’t notice it, until felt something on its fur;

The manticore moves it eyes and look down. It been searching for any animal it could gets it claws on all night, and found a meal. A very strange...ape hanging from a tree; a weird medal thing that has hole up front to his throat. He looks up to his prey again. His prey chuckled, He was very confused. He has the upper hand; his claws were at its chest and it arms and still it not dead. But he senses something is wrong with this creature. “Nightly night, MOTHERFUCKER!” before he can reacted, pain had just soar through his throat. He looks down; blood was spitting out and covering the glass with blood. The manticore started to have hard time breathing.

I give myself little smile as I saw the manticore took a few steps from me and begin to choke on its own blood.  “How it like now, huh, you ugly son of the bitch,” I said as, I begin to cough up blood. I watch as the manticore slowly dies off.  Finally, the manticore falls to the ground, still choking and finally it toke it final breaths and drown itself in its own blood. As soon as the monster went dead, I search for my backpack. The manticore had thrown it near a brush.  Even though the pain is killing me quickly; I crawl towards it. Hoping, my bag has a medi-gel inside of it. As each minute pastes, my eyes started to go blur. I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I am going to die here if I pass out. Hell I bet some other predator is going to come, roaming around here and found me and the manticore corpse. My crawling became a bit slow. I stopped, knowing that I won’t make to my bag, so I will wait for death to come for me. I lay my face on the soft, um-tamped grass.  It feels so peaceful here, but the quietness broke as soon as I begin to hear footsteps. By now, I have passed out due to the loss of blood. I don’t know how long I was out. But I swear I thought I was being drag by a zebra, but I think that was a dream, right?

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I woke up, feeling groggy. My eyes were still closed. But I can hear someone speaking an east African accent.  From what I can hear, she either making something or cooking; weird, maybe I didn’t hear her right. Then I felt something on my chest. It felt…. Like goo. It feels very soft, like the pillows imported from Thessia. Man, I missed those pillows badly. My head feels lightly dizzy, must be from the goo. Ah, well. I might take a few hours of sleep before I introduced myself to my saver.

I slowly open my eyes; it was dark. From what I can see, I’m in what appears to be a cut-out tree.  The room I’m in currently in is well, cover with African masks and bottles. I can hear….. Singing of someone nearby, that voice… it so beautiful and smooth.

My heart is hollow, but I will not give in.

Our love ones will be in our hearts forever.

We will not give in; we will fight until our last breath.

We will not give our children to you.

The gods will burn you for what you had done to our people.

We will not give in to your whippings and callings us…us….

She stops the song. I can hear her sobbing than she starts crying. I felt sadness in me, hearing her cry. I don’t know why she crying, but I’m about to found out.

I peeked through my eyes, only seeing that the person who saves me wasn’t a person, it was zebra. “Is there something wrong?” I ask her politely; lifting my head. She turned around, shocked that I was awake. “Oh, I see my visitor had awaken from his dreams,” she said while trying covering up her tears. From what I can tell from the bags under eyes; she been crying for hours. “You still haven’t answered my question.”  I tried to lift myself, but only melt with pain in upper body. “ARGH! Son of the…” I placed my hand to my chest. Its hurts like hell. “The pain in the body is not heal. This I have will help.”  The zebra handed me a bobble of some sorts.  “Here, this will make the pain go away.” She explain to me that the bobble will only help make pain temporary gone, but she also told me to only take small doses; she say that the liquid in the bobble has some weird…..side effects to it. I did what she told me. I open the bobble and toke small doses. The smell was horrible, as I took the first dose.

The taste in liquid was unbearable. As soon I finish taking my first dose. I ask the zebra for some water. The taste from that bobble still lingers in my mouth. “I see this one had finally suffered the taste of the hail flower.” She said while handed me the water. I took one big gulp of the water.  My tongue tingled as the water made contact. The water was really refreshing for my tastes.

“Thank you for the water, miss…”

“Zecora” she said.

I am still very shock that I am talking to an animal, but an intelligence one, at that.  I had asked her where my bag is; she pointed her…hoof at a nearly table.  “Your items are inside, where they are safe from anypony.” Did she just say ‘anypony’ well that weird I guess her kind uses a different kind of dialogue here? She also explains that she also heal my wounds.

“Thank you, Miss Zecora.”

“It was nothing, my dear friend.”

Wow, it only had been a few minutes and she already calling me a friend. I need to ask her where am I.

“So, I was wondering, Where am I?” I ask her politely

“My friend, you’re in equestria.”  She answer

Equestria; where did I hear that name before?  I ask her a few questions about equestria. What she was telling me was unbelievable. She told me that equestria is ruled by two princesses that control the sun and the moon. In my mind, I tried to come up with every logical scientific theory to explain it. But to no avail. She asks what I am.

“I’m a human, Zecora”

She takes one good look at me, giving me weird looks; she moves her right hoof to my hands. She moves my fingers for a while. She takes one of my fingers and examines it. She moves it a little. Her hooves are soft. But, by the look of them, they were rough. After a few minutes of examining my fingers, she stops and stares at me; It felt realty uncomfortable that she staring at me like that. She finally speaks.

“Are humans relating to dragons?”

I answer “uh, no Zecora. Humans are not relating to dragons; we are relating to apes and monkeys.”

Once I say that. She gave me a smile. So, we exchanged a few conversions about my personal life. I told her that I was born on the twenty first of December in 2177 on Earth. My father was the captain of the Alliance cruiser SSV Moscow, and my mother was a marine. My family has been military since the Second World War, and that hasn’t changed, but when the reapers came.  Everything changed. The reapers had completely overrun earth’s defenses in a matter of minutes. I was at my parent’s apartment home in Vancouver, sleeping in my bed when it happens.

I was awoke by this sound. It sounded like a starship, but close. When I look over my bedroom’s window, all I could only that scars me for life was the destruction, the screams, the death. And the worst of them all were the…ships; those squid- like ships tearing Vancouver apart building by building, apartment building after apartment building had been destroyed by those monsters.

The door to my bedroom blew open, seeing my mom in her alliance armor. “Son Come we have to get out of here.” She said, fear filling her voice; she quickly picked me up and ran outside. I can see my home crumble as one of the ships fired a red beam at the apartment building.  The place was completely leveled, torn to shreds. People who were nearly were completely shock; the fleets above us were supposed to project us, guard us from any threat, but right now, we’re at the mercy of those monsters. My mother kept running, dodging any fallen debris or people who were either too stupid or foolish to stay in the city; It was a completely bloodbath. Me and my mother made it to a makeshift evacuation site, but it was chaos. There were alliance soldiers and police that were trying to keep the evacuation in order, but it wasn’t really that simple. The soldiers are scrambling to try to get the transports in the air, but are kept being shot down by reapers fighters. It’s was fucking mess from the start. I embrace my mother harder when I saw one of the transports being shot down fill with people, mostly children.

“Please mom, please don’t leave me!” I cry to her as she straps me down in one of the evacuation shuttles. “Please honey, don’t make this any difficult.” She said, trying comfort me for the last time. “B...b…ut don’t go.” I sob, trying to convince her to stay with me, but it was no choice. She was marine. She had to stay in help with the evacuation. As she finish with stapling in my seat belt. She looks me with those beautiful blue eyes. I tried to speak, but she spook first. “Please honey; stay strong for me and daddy.” She said her last goodbye on the kiss of my forehead. A person comes up to her and leans near her ear, whispering something. She nods and looks back at me. Seeing the sadness and guilt of leaving her child in her eyes, she heads out of the shuttle, and gives a final look before the doors sided close.

The humming of the shuttle engines begin to start. I tried to get rip off the restraints, but I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned my head to only see a reflection of myself off of a visor of alliance solder. The only two words the solder said to me made me stop. “Kid, don’t.”  I listen to what he’s say. There was no hope I will never see my mother again. I buried my head into my hands, crying out for mother.  I feel the shuttle stuttered as it begins to take off.

I lifted my head from my souk hands. I looked around, seeing solders who are on their omni-tools hearing the reports of the invasion and some who are silently crying like me a few minutes ago, hoping that their families are okay. You know what; I haven’t seen other refugees like me, only solders in the shuttle. I ask a soldier (Who has his helmet off.)  On my left why there was no one like me on the shuttle. He gives me a cold stare. “Kid…this isn’t a evacuation shuttle this is military.” He said as he pulls a pack of cigarettes from his pack on his side and lights one up. Wait, why I am in military shuttle, not an evacuation shuttle unless… by god I took her place.

Right before I ask one of the solders where we are heading, a voice came through the intercom. “Approaching stealth frigate, Battle of Washington, ETA two minutes,” ‘How the hell did we bypass those ships?’ I thought. This shuttle must be one of those prototype stealth Kodiaks that I had been hearing from my dad. I signed. I hoped my dad made it out. The last time I spoke to him he was stationed in the second fleet and he was---.

“Oh my god!” said a shock, feminine voice, interrupting my trail of thought.

Everybody, including me, turn our gazes to a female solder; on her arm, an omni tool. Her eyes were bulged in shock.  “Salon, what wrong?” One of the solders asked.  She turns her gaze from omni tool towards us. “Hackett o-ordered the second fleet to c-cover the retreat.”  She shuddered. Did I just hear that right? Did admiral Hackett just order—no, sacrifice the second fleet to cover the Third and fifth to retreat. “It can’t…be.” I murmured. Flesh wave of new Tears form in my eyes, this is it I’m all alone.

“After I found out that my father got killed, I just...”  I stop, trying to find the right words to say. “Well I j-just lost it.”  I turned my gaze from the zebra, trying hard not to cry. The second time in my life, I feel so alone in my life. “Zecora I’m sorry yo...” but I was interrupted when the zebra trolled over and quickly hugged me. Unlike her hoove, her fur was soft as ever. Everything in my body rupture in pain, my legs were barely keeping together, but it didn’t matter to me. She was in the same pain as me; I can tell. She begins to cry on my shoulder. Her hooves around me begin to get tighter and tighter each passing minute. “Everything going to be okay zecora,” I whispered to her ear, tears begin steaming down my face also. She cries even more. After a full 12 minutes, we both let go. “Thank you I...I needed that.”  She said as gives me rag to wipe my tears, she gives out a yawn. It must be late, wait, what time is it? “Uh, Zecora what time is it?” she walks towards a nearby window and looks up to the stars. ‘Interesting, her kind doesn’t use electric clocks; they just use the stars to predict time.’ After a few minutes and so, she walks towards me and nuzzled me near my neck.

I blushed, as she continues to nuzzle me I managed to move my hand to her back, despite the pain. I begin to rub her back which seems to make her more tired. Suddenly she collapsed on the ground; I can hear her snorts which sounds a bit adorable. I was able to lift her upon my shoulder. Tell you the truth. She wasn’t heavy as I thought but the pain in my legs is starting to get to me, I’ll probably collapse. I scanned the room, and finally found her bed.  I remove the covers and place her down. I place my hand on her forehead, checking for a temperature. Her forehead is a little hot, but not closes to a fever. Despite the pain in my legs, I search around her home, trying to find a guest room that I could sleep for the night.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I find none. I signed and return to Zecora bed. I can hear her little snoring. It was kindly adorable watching her sleep. I give out a smile. ‘She sleeps the same position as my…daughter.’  I though, letting out a tear. I miss them so much. I let out more tears I as think of them. I wipe away the tears with my arm; I need to move on; they probably think I’m dead by now when that colony got burn down. As I remove the covers to Zecora bed; I look at Zecora. “She had lost so much.” I mutter myself, lying on my back. “I hope she tells me in the morning.” I pull the covers over my body, near my chest. And fell into a deep sleep, and to…. the Realm of Dreams.

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I woke up to the sound of something cooking.  It smells pretty good; like the asari foods back on Thessia.  I open my right eye to see what the zebra was cooking. I watched her as she leans over her cauldron. I had notice the plant in her mouth. The plant looks similar to the salarian flowers on sur’kesh with violet and greenest colors. She opens her mouth, letting the flower slip out of it. The flower slowly falls into the pot filled with hot boiling water. When it reaches the surface of the boiling water, it stunk into the water, slowly burning it. I can smell the burning from her bed; it smells…pretty good. I had notice several other flowers with diffident colors. I let out a little smile, those flowers are beautiful.

Then I saw Zecora moving to…me. OH, BY THE SPIRITS! Did she notice me waking up? I quickly closed my eyelid.  I begin to sweat hard; I don’t know why. Maybe because I’m too scared or worry, I can hear her hooves approaching. I can hear them echoed across the room. She was getting closer, I can tell. Than the footsteps (or hoovesteps) stop; I open my eyes to see where she had gone to, but instead she right in front of my face.  We started into each other eyes. “Uuuuh, Zecora you can back away now.”  I ask politely. Her cheeks were crimson red and she step back. ‘Did she just try attempting to kiss me while I was sleeping?’ I let out a small chuckled at that thought. ‘No, she wouldn’t. We just met yesterday.’ I looked at her again.

Her cheeks were still blushing red. Finally I broke the awkward silence.

“Zecora, would you kindly explain to me why you were so close to my face?”  Now I had done it. The zebra was now even redder now.  I cannot contain my laughter anymore. “So, uh Zecora what are you making over there?” I asked, laughing quietly. Her cheeks were now redder as an apple. I laugh again; this time a little louder. “I was…was…making a … potion for your…injuries.”  Zecora twiddled her hooves in embarrassment.

“It’s all right, Zecora I’m not mad at you, but you do look cute when you blushed.” I reassure her.  Zecora smiled, but she still had her blush. She removes my covers, only to be shock that the injuries on my chest are healed. I was even shock as well. Was it the potion that Zecora give to me last night? No, no that can’t be. She says it only temporary stops the pain, not heal it. I throw the covers over, I smudge from her and walked over to her cauldron. I looked over the cauldron. I see bubbles begin pop and reappeared again. The water is a mid-pink with a touch of red. I crane my neck to see Zecora approaching me.  ” this stew was supposed to heal your injuries, but it appears that fate had done it before me.” She said and gives an applauding smile.  “But, it also good for fixing bad omens in the stomach,” From that point I took a spoon from a nearly table with zebra-shaped masks.

Oddly enough one of them is like, staring right at me. Creepy man, just creepy; I move my hand, with the spoon in it gasps. I dive the spoon into the cauldron boiling stew. It emerges with only the tasteful stew in the oval shape at the end of handle.

I blow some air to cool the stew down.  I move the stew to my lips, feeling the hot steam from it. I took a slip. God, when it made first contact with my tongue, I completely went to heaven. The taste was similar between an asari cuisine and a salarian drink exported from a terminus colony called Esso. I turned to Zecora and said. “Zecora this is the best stew I had in years.” I said as I took another slip of this wonderful stew.

She smiled at my reaction to the stew, but I can still felt that something wrong with her.  She stares at her refection in the stew, the sadness creeping over her. Tears forming into her eyes; I move my hand to her mane…well her Mohawk, and started petting her to try to ease her sadness.

“You know.”

I turn my head towards her, locking my eyes with hers and giving her a smile.

“I never give you my name.”

*Canterlot castle*

*OCTOBER, 2*

*9:23 AM*

The city of Canterlot; with all it might and political power, comes with terrible secrets. Since Canterlot was founded and build during the formation of Equestria. There had been many rumors about it. Some, going back centuries during the first ruling dynasties of the unicorns, the earth ponies and of course the Pegasus were forming. Some rumor says that castle itself is haunted by ones who lived before Celestia and her sister came to rule. Other rumors suggested the city and the castle were much older since some of the areas in the castle date back to one hundred thousand years before the formation. During that time it was drawn of the alicorn civilization before they mysterious disappear.

Celestia, the all mighty goddess of the sun and one of the two last bloodlines of the Saint Shá dynasty, and one of the last few female alicorns on the planet. The only few males of the species were either in exile or in hibernated to restore their powers. Celestia’s mother, Queen Faust, was waiting excitedly for her daughter’s first marriage, but right before her daughter’s big day came, she had fallen ill from a mysterious rare alicorn disease. A few days later, she died on her bed in canterlot. After her death, there had been uproars of rumors surrounded her death. Rumors like that she had been actually poisoned by the enemy of the griffon kingdoms or a rebel group.

Whatever else, it had traumatic effect on celestia and her baby sister, Luna. Every year, on the 10 of October, celestia, herself would raise the sun earlier in honor of her mother on her balcony. Some of the royal guards who were stationed outside of her personal chambers said they could hear their princess crying. She misses her mother dearly. Luna herself took their mother death very greatly, during when she was just a foal, every time she has a nightmare, she would cried out for mother to comfort her, but only celestia came.

“Tia, where’s mommy?”

The little one asked as she wipes the tears away from her recent nightmare. Celestia looked down to Luna; her little sister in her arms. The death of their mother, the first queen who would lead their nation, Equestria, through its first dark time from the god of chaos, discord; by using the elements of the harmony, the daughters of Queen Faust were able to trap the wrenched god into stone. The end of his rule has come to an end. Their mother was so proud of their success; their first test into becoming rulers of equestria.  But that all came clashing down when mother die. With the crown lost and without a new leader, equestria will soon descend into chaos again.

Celestia look up from her pillow, staring blankly at the wall with her red eyes, thinking what to tell lulu about their mother.

“Tia where mommy?” the little blue filly asked again, tabbing on Tia right hoove. Celestia looked down between her legs,looking down at the filly. “Lulu, mother ...” she stops, a lump formed in her throat, having a hard time to say the words. “Isn’t with us anymore lulu.” She finally said it. The tears she been holding back since the news had been let out.  Luna dealt the worst of it. Her mind cracked, she all alone now, except her sister. Luna let out a cry; brand new batch of tears formed in her eyes.  Luna tightens her grip on celestia, the tears soaking on her coat. “Everything is going to okay, Luna.” She kisses her sister on the forehead. “Everything going be okay,” She whispers near Luna ear.

“Everything is going to be okay.”

Celestia let out a sigh. It’s been five thousand years after their mother death, and some things haven’t changed.  She gazed over the land, her land, her home that she had protecting since her mother death from others who will use this land for their own personal gains. “I protect this land for over thousand years and still…”

“Sister!” a voice called out.  Celestia gazed over her shoulder, seeing another alicorn similar to her, but smaller with a dark sapphire blue coat with a moderate cobalt blue mane and symbol of the moon for a cutie mark.

“Sister did you felt it?”

“Yes Luna I have.”  She reply

For the past nine hours, Celestia and her sister had detected a magical spike in the area known as the Everfree forest. Many dare not enter the forest due to its weird properties. Wild breasts roam freely through the forest, but the Royal Guard usually sent patrols along the perimeter of the forest. Still, there many unknowns in the forest; rumors suggests that forest hides vast amounts of resources’ that can prove vial to the equestria economy, but the forest still proves too dangerous to send in any  expeditions teams to calm theses ‘rumored resources’.

The only time that Celestia enter that dreaded forest was when she had to confront her sister, leading up to her banishment, and the return of the nightmare moon.  Nightmare defeat brought back her sister and she has forgiven her sister for what she done to her many years ago, but still many old wounds still lingered on between them, until today.

“Sister should we sent the royal guard to investigate this strange magical disturbance?” her sister asked

“Yes Luna, but you and I will accompany them.”

Luna looked at her if she was insane. “But, sister we don’t know what the magical disturbance is. All we know it might be a dangerous new creature from far off lands, a weapon or all we know  the magical disturbance is probable a trap set up by the griffons.” Luna stated. Ever the since the brutal betrayed of the griffons kingdoms during the rebellion of nightmare moon.Tensions between them and Equestria were high for the last three thousand years until the rise of Zebraica.

Zebraica is border by several zebra city states: Zanzania, Zwanda, Zurundi and Zomalia all stand between the griffon kingdoms and Zebraica total conquest of the known world. The Zebraica leader, Queen Zkemdilim, had serenity been building an army, numbering in the millions, for the past 20 years; hidden in the jungles of her country; she had been planning on conquering the city states in one strike, one blow that will make them surrender, and she will finally invade the griffon kingdoms for humiliate her family and her country in the third century BN (Before Nightmare moon).

On the third of January, 1108AN (After Nightmare Moon), they crossed the border of Zanzania and Zurundi; quickly, they stuck the major cities first, quickly knocking out their main source of Industrial might. Surprising and overwhelming their armies, thanks to saboteurs who sabotage their supply lines and logistics support from their griffin allies. By the end of the week, Zanzania, Zurundi and Zomalia had all fallen, except one.

Due to the efforts of the ancient regiment of Amoral, Zwanda was able to buy itself some time to slow the invasion down; while giving the griffons’ time to mobilize their defenses among the border. For the next two days, Zebraica forces lay siege to Zwanda capital, but the defenders (mostly militia) were too deeply entrenched in and around the city. Frontal assaults around the city had all failed, and reports are coming in that griffons are fully mobilized near the western and eastern border of Zwanda, anxious to invade and fight their old zebra enemies.

On the third day of the siege, they finally broke through the city defenses and took the city center, Zwanda has surrender, but street fighting from the resisting civilians ensued and it did cost them dearly, taking the city at the cost of half of a million zebraica troops.

Angry that her plan is ruined; Zkemdilim issued a final order to her generals that will draw Equestria ever closer to war.

By her order of her majesty, Queen Zkemdilim of Zebraica has order that the people of Zwanda will be ‘removed’ from their lands for delaying her plan of total conquest of the Zebra Free states and the Griffon Kingdoms. Used any means necessary to remove them- Commander in chief, Haloed Dark.

When the order was sent out; the generals were already working at “removing” the populace from Zwanda. Celestia let out a sallow sigh as she remembers that dreadful day when the council calls in a session about it.

Five hundred sixty years ago after nightmare moon.

Royal council chambers

“Ah, princess it good to see you; Come, come,” One of the councilor members greeted, little emotion in his voice as she taken her seat.

All around the circular table was the council of Apollo. The council was formed after the “discord incident” and the death of celestia mother, Queen Faust, the council is handed by the finest minsters, well picked by the princess herself. That of course, they handle the day-day affairs in Canterlot and the nation, from joint finance to foreign policy. Even though the princesses have the most power in the nation; of course their decisions can still be overridden through enough votes in the council, and they can be remove if one of the princess turns corrupt. The last time that the council had removed one of princess was one thousand years ago, during the nightmare incident when Luna jealousy over her sister’s day corrupted her, turning her into nightmare moon, so begin the Nightmare rebellion. Secretly Luna had been gaining followers to her “cause”, believing that the night is superior than day itself.

Luna had isolate herself from her sister, only her most loyal guards and a few servants knew what she was planning to do. She was so tired of it all, her subjects praising her sister for ending her night and bringing in the day. SO FUCKING SICK OF IT!  She would cry in her sleep every time she brings the night, she just tired of it and soon she was at the breaking point of it all, Nightmare Moon. When she refuses to lower the moon and bring in the day, her sister tried to reason with her, but it was too late she was already corrupted by the jealousy and angst, finally turning into the very breast that had been locked in her consciousness all this time.

On the night of September 8, 108NMI (Nightmare moon incident) Luna (Now nightmare moon) and her secretly build army set out to conquer Canterlot and bring an end to her ‘perfect’ sister’s’ rule. Celestia shocked and shaken by her own sister betrayed, rally the city’s royal guard and fought her in the everfree forest. The battle had lasted entire night, pony against pony, brother against brother, sister against sister, father against son.

The battle was a stalemate from the start, Celestia and nightmare moon were equality matched, their armies too; claymores and halberds were still used in battles before the invention of gunpowder sixty years later. The climax of the battle came; it was morning now, but still dark. The armies of Celestia and Nightmare moon were completely destroy, their corpses slowly decomposing or being eaten by crows; only two figures stood among the dead.

The long hours of battle had stressed them to the breaking point of exhaustion, but either had given up; Celestia armor was covered in blood, her subject’s blood. It was completely heartbroken for her, killing the very people that she sworn to protect, but she knew their sacrificed will not be in vain; if she’s stops nightmare moon. But the words that been forming in her mind since the beginning of the battle will make her transform from an innocent mare to a cold-hardened one.

The sons that she killed will never have families of their own.

The fathers that she killed will never see their children again.

The sisters that she killed will never see their brothers and fathers again.

The friendships that she killed will never be healed.

The mothers that she killed will never comfort their children during their darkest of times.

The bond with her sister had been destroyed, but not yet broken.

Those dreadful words will haunt her through the rest of her immoral life. About Twenty meters in front of her was nightmare moon, the cold hearted bitch herself had sacrificed the few of her troops to weaken her sister and have time to finish her spell.  Before she was turned into nightmare moon, Luna and her sages back at the ruins in the everfree forest were able to create a spell that feeds on the spirits of the dead which makes the user’s magic stronger.

She had plan use the spell on the plains of solaria, knowing that her sister will converge on her in the plains, she set out several of her most loyal spies to Canterlot to retrieve the elements of harmony while her sister is preoccupied, but it seems that her sister got way ahead of her when her spies reported that the elements were no longer at Canterlot. She expressed her anger over not getting the elements by executed the spies themselves- but still leaves her sister at a disadvantage.

“So, my dear sister where are the elements? Did you hid with your pathetic ponies or that worthless of a protégé has them?” nightmare smirked, seeing to enrage her sister of mentioning of her protégé, but no reply, just standing there, looking at her with those magenta eyes.

Hatred.

Regret.

Sadness.

That was the message in her eyes, she kept that emotional mask around her subjects since she and celestia took charge. Nightmare smirked again, able to see behind that mask of emotions of her sister.

“What the matter, sister? Too scare to face your little sister. No wonder you will let our moth…” She was interrupted by a blast of magic, but luckily she dodges it.

“DON’T YOU DARE INVOLVE OUR MOTHER INTO THIS, LUNA!” Tia roared out, her once pink hair now turning into an inferno, burning the grass and any nearly corpses, giving them a burn stench. The outburst from her sister didn’t made nightmare lose her composer or made her regretting about the insult. Her sister on the other hand was pissed off.

Her once pink hair and tail has turn into inferno of fire that burn anyone or anything near her. She had tried and tried to getting her sister to surrender, but it was no use. She should have acted before this got out of hand. She saw the signs of her sister mental state but instead ignores it and now everypony is paying the price. Can she really do it? Can she really stop nightmare moon. If the elements do failed, then she will have no choice than to put her sister down.

“This is your last chance, luna. Please surrender now and forget this little rebellion.” Celestia pea to her sister but it was no use.

“You think you just order me around like I’m your puppet! But no more; Equestria will either burn by our hoof or fall to our prosperous night! This ends now!” Nightmare moon horn glowed from moderate cobalt blue to dark black.

‘Wait what is she do---.” The realization hit Celestia hard. ‘No, No, No. she didn’t? Luna what have you done.’ Celestia look in horror as her beloved sister changed again: Her mane and body are ever darker to her beloved night. Her eyes changed from moderate cyan with the catlike irises to full-blown black, her veins started showing all over her body, illuminating the blackness that taken her mind. A barrier is slowly risen from the ground. All rounded her; the souls of the very dead begin to appear. They began to cry out in pain as they’re painfully being pulled towards the barrier

“You will now know the true power of the night sister!” Nightmare demonic voiced exclaim. The magical energy in her horn was growing timeous. Nightmare leaned her head, aiming her horn at her sister.

Celestia can feel the raw energy coming from her former sister’s horn, Dark magic.

Ever since drawn of pony evolution, magic has always been part of ponykind, even though the earth ponies can’t manipulate the fields of magic, but it does give them an edge in growing crops faster due to their connection to the land. The Pegasus can use magic, but very little to help them lift objects and walk on clouds, but helps them manipulate the weather around them, but their unicorn counterparts; it’s a different story.

Unicorns are the masters of magic, able to create and use spells for the betterment of their society or their own gains, but also makes them have a superiority attitude, believing that others that have none or less magic are inferior to them. Even though they are masters of magic, it didn’t stop them from experimenting it.

The experiments Officially creating the first forms of dark magic.

Starswirl the bearded had warm in his research that magic is too unstable to experimenting on, but his warnings’ had fell on death ears. Already, there been reports of magical experiments in Canterlot and other unicorn cities. Already the magic is slowly corrupting the people, turning them into monsters and experiments on live subjects. The practices were finally put down after a kidnapping attempt on the unicorn king daughter, Princess Platinum, from a cult called the ‘black hoof’. The books and leaflets about dark magic were either burned or lock away in the royal archives in Canterlot, keeping from those who will use it for evil.

But right now this evil has created one of the most powerful dark spells in ponykind, and it pointing right at Celestia.

“Goodbye sister. Say hello to mother for me.” Nightmare laughed. Laughed at her sister; laughed at the one who raised her since her birth. Time seems to slow down as nightmare horn fires the void of dark magic at her sister. Celestia arched her neck and her horn glowed, quickly bringing up a shield around her as the height of the blast made contact. The spell that Celestia used was one of the most powerful shield spells created by starswirl the bearded to protect the user from the most powerful spells and physic attacks but dark magic can completely overcome these spell if the user has a strong, and that strong mind is Celestia.

‘It’s hurts so much!’  Celestia thought as her mind barley holds off the dark magic that breaking the shield. The force of dark magic is throwing timeous force at the shield, staining her energy to the breaking point. She has to act fast or all Equestria will all fall under her eternal night. In the aftermath, the shield was still up, but barely holding, showing cracks among it. The energy inside the sun goddess is barely holding out. Soon or later she will collapse from the ongoing dark magic attacks from her sister. Nightmare Moon on the other end is growing stronger every minute, slowing eating on the souls of the dead.

‘By the stars, this...this is magnificent. The power in this spell feels so good.’  Nightmare thought. The spell has worked so perfectly that her sister is barely hanging on. That artifact from my mother old room in the everfree forest ruins had provided greatly for my spell. Soon my sister will be defeated and a new age of equestria will begin; THE NEW LUNA RE---.

“THE DARKNESS MUST NOT BE BREACHED!”

‘Wait w---’ her trait of though was interrupted as an unspeakable pain erupted in her mind.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!” She pleaded. Her now demonic voice was a whimper voice that calls out from the unknown voice, losing her concentration on the spell. The barrier around her has disappeared. The souls that feel her power are disappearing, awaiting their turn to the afterlife.

“YOU WILL NOT TAKE WHAT IS MINE!”

The pain continues, slowing coursing through her body. The veins on her body disappeared. Altering her body to her former self; she pleaded to the one who was making the pain in her head, but it was no use, the pain increases each second, she screams for her mother to stop.

Celestia was confused and horridly that was set upon her: her sister in pain. One second she was nearing victory over her and next, crying out in pain and yelling at nothing in the fog state air. She walks slowly towards her sister, hearing her pleading.

“Please by the gods, make…. This…. stop.” Nightmare whimper, Turing her head left and right to ignore the pain, but to no effect.

“THE MAGICS INSIDE YOU WILL NOT PROTECT YOU FOR LONG, ALICORN.  YOUR HARVEST WILL SOON COME AGAIN TO YOUR WORLD!”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, SISTER PLEASE SAVE US!” Luna called out between her screams; blood begin running down her nose, the pain was getting worst; if this keeps up her mind will be gone and will become a lifeless shell within the next few minutes.

Celestia just stood there, watching the events unfolded. The once powerful dark alicorn who had fought her to the end was now a whimpering mess. She calls for her help, but can she do, she nearly exhaustion from the fight to bring up any healing spells, but what about the elements. ‘No’ she shank that though away. There still a chance without banishing her, but that will lead to her execution.

Before Celestia had confronted Nightmare moon, the council of Apollo had asked her to bring Luna in and execution for her crimes against Equestria. Of course she was against this since she had spoken out that Nightmare moon was a possessed demon. After a long (almost violence) debate, they agreed with her plan to talk her sister down, but if Luna fails to seek reason, than the elements have to be used to stop her. But some of the council members still wanted her to be put to death, but the decision is final. They will sit and wait in the council chambers in Canderlot, waiting if Celestia’s plan will work.

‘But it almost did.’ Celestia had hid the elements in a hollow tree before the battle in case she was not able to convince her Luna into backing down this rebellion. She could have use elements strike her down to save thousands of her people, but still there were too many unknowns if it will work; she would be most vulnerable when using all of magical power on elements when trying to defeat nightmare moon. But standing there, watching her sister crying out in timeous pain. It makes her not to use the elements on her, it not going to kill her, only banishing her. Can she really do I----.

“PLEASE SISTER, HELP US! THE PAIN! IT KILLING US!” blood to drip from Luna ear sockets.

Celestia horn glowed. Appearing right beside her in a hexagon formation above her was the elements of harmony.

The element of Honesty- the truth can help others, but the truth can also hurt others

The element of Kindness- kindness will always get us through our darkest of times, but people with kindness will take advantage of others for their own gain.

The element of Laughter- laughter can dame out the sadness in all of us, but it is crude to others.

The element of Generosity- giving up personal items to others is saint at heart, but people can exploit that.

The element of Loyalty- putting your friends first instead of yourself is the greatest thing to friendship, but your friends can betrayal that which will hurt you the most.

The element of Hope- Hope is the most powerful form of friendship; it helps bring hope, kindness, laughter, loyalty, generosity, and honesty to those will lost the will,but can also bring great evils.

Celestia horn glow even more blighter than ever before. Her wings spread out, slowly hovering off the ground.The elements had double her magical power to defeat any enemy that threatens her kingdom. The elements are like living constructs, choosing anyone that follows the true values of friendship. Celestia and Luna had followed these values since their first battle with Discord, The breasts of the everfree forest, The Panther wars, griffon raiders. anything world can throw at us; they always triumph against the evils of their world, but now the next evil that world thrown is her own sister.

The element begin to react from Celestia horn, the energies inside them spread to Celestia horn than to her whole body. with the final stoke of a thought, the energy was released. A beam of Celestial light ascended towards the skies, blighting the sky above. In Canterlot, citizens' step out of their boarded up houses looked up to the sky, confused and amaze.

The beam begins to descend towards its target:Luna, still in pain by the oncoming screams by the mysterious entity in luna head. As the beam descending closer and closer to its target, luna was able to turn her head of the beam that was going to trap her in her moon; was she afraid, being trapped there for possibly a thousand years or millions of years, missing all of those holidays that Equestria will have will be missed, her sister birthdays, the passing of the loves one of the extended family.

Those are the things that she would missed, but why in her mind she feels whole; maybe it do to be alone in that Godforsaken castle for years or admitted guilt for what she had done.

She had never this kind of feeling before: guilt

In her years severing her mother's dynasty, she never considered herself that rude to others, well her subjects won't openly complained about this to her older sister about this 'un-royality' behavior.

Her older sister ignored the complains from the elite of Canterlot (A.K.A, the corrupt jackasses of Canterlot.) and had said that luna is just young and needs time to get use of her responsibilities in how to running a country.

Even though luna was consider very old to everypony in Equestria, she was still young (about 15 years old in Alicorn terms.) to her sister eyes and the rest of the extended family. This has given her a 'I'm big mare' attitude to her sister.

From asking her sister of stop being overprotective over her and of course having guards at her side every time (except the bedroom.) she heads out to Canterlot. This kind of annoyance has made her kind of a social outcast to her subjects.

Every time that either Celestia or some big up noble throwing a big party on how big his status (and his wealth) is. She always hides behind her sister's back to avoid the glares from the partly goers, but they don't do that when in front of her sister of course.

Maybe that why she isolated herself in the castle. To get away from the dislikes and the rumors, spreading by nobles that hate her, flowing around that she a witch that summons spells to bring demons from Tartarus to make night a little more 'prefect'. Luna, already nearing depression, was shock and betrayed by her trusted subjects.

Maybe that why she turn into Nightmare moon; to get revenge on them, to kill those who made her this way, but now she's doesn't know what she fighting about. Was this entire rebellion just something that will ease the pain inside, but now it's all wasted?

Now she, slowly being killed by that....demon. The only another way to rid of a demon was elements of harmony; she will accept her banishment, yet she will become deeply insane without interaction with her subjects.

As she stares at the beam descending ever closer to her, the demon inside her screams at her even more.

"THE WEAPONS OF THE PROTHEANS WILL EVER HELP YOU RECLAIM WHAT YOUR RACE HAD LOST. THE HARVEST WILL CONTINUE!"

The beam has reached its target; The rainbow color beams surrounds her body, changing her form to her original self. The demon let out terrifying shriek as its losing it connection to her mind. She looks up to her sister,despite the brightness from the elements, she can her...crying,shedding tears down her cheeks on blood soaked ground.

Using what left of vocal energy, she shouted to her sister.

"i'll be coming home soon, sister."

Than in flash of light she was gone. Nightmare moon was gone; luna was gone. Equestria was finally safe, but at the cost of a dear relative and a love one.

Celestia; with the last of energy exhausted, finally collapsed, hitting the ground hard. She painfully moves her head, looking at the moon. Her sister moon. The moon changed, showing a constellation of craters, forming a face of a Alicorn.

Her sister.

Than it all went black.