And With The Dawn Of True Peace

Late one evening, Queen Void lowers the sun and raises the Moon with a sad sigh. "Your Highness?" She turns with a smile to find a worried looking Twilight behind her. "Is everything okay?"

Void turns back to the Moon with another sigh and gestures for Twilight to sit next to her. "Twilight, I never told you what happened to the Princesses did you?"

Twilight looks confused. "You said that you bound them to the Sun and Moon for at least a century."

Void nods before sighing again. "It is something I wish I never had to do but they both left me no choice." Shaking her head sadly, she turns to Twilight. "Would you like to see what happened?"

Twilight looks slightly surprised. "Sure but how?"

"Using the same spell that I used to show you what led me down this path." Cringing slightly at the reminder, Twilight nods before Void presses her horn to Twilight's head who allows herself to drift off to sleep.

Eleven months ago, Ponyvile's Dragon Cave

As she waits for Twilight to wake up from her magic induced sleep, Void sits in the sunrise. The Princesses are going to come looking for them once they learn what happened. Scootaloo nods. "Why keep them waiting? For our plan to work, we need to take completely unopposed control of Equestria one way or another. But how to make ourselves known?"

Scootaloo thinks for a moment before smiling. "Hey, Nightmare? Do you still have some control over the Moon?" Yes but we can't force the sun from the sky yet. Scootaloo smile becomes even wider. "Don't worry, I have an idea."

Half an hour later, Canterlot Castle

Princess Celestia has just enjoyed her breakfast and is preparing for day court when everything starts getting noticeably darker. Calmly, she looks outside and is very surprised to see a lunar eclipse starting. That's odd. There isn't supposed to be an eclipse until next month. Once the eclipse is full though, a horribly familiar visage appears on the Moon's surface. It can't be!

At that moment, a Royal Guard bursts into the throne room. "Princess!" He bows. "We've received word that Princess Twilight and the other Elements are missing. They haven't been seen for two days and search and rescue missions have failed."

Celestia freezes for a second as her worst fear is realised. "Please tell the other Guards to prepare to once again do battle with Nightmare Moon. If I have to banish Luna to save Equestria, I will."

The Guard looks even more worried and visibly starts shivering. "I'm afraid that Princess Luna is not the host, your majesty. She’s been accounted for in her bedroom, still fast asleep."

For the first time in known history, Princess Celestia's legendarily deadpan breaks as she grows worried. "Is there any word on who that poor pony could be?"

The Royal Guard shakes his head. "No-pony has seen them, Princess. It's believed that Nightmare Moon struck whilst Princess Twilight and her friends were at the Castle of the Two Sisters though why they were there is unknown."

Celestia nods grimly. "Please summon Princess Luna immediately and assemble the Guard."

The Guard bows. "At once, your highness."

Celestia tries to keep a calm face as she waits for Princess Luna in Twilight's former bedroom. In all my time as Princess, only two beings have ever managed to defeat me; Chrysalis and Luna. If the Nightmare has taken over any of the Elements, Equestria will face a war not seen since Discord.

Before her ruminations can continue, the door to the room bursts open and a very tired and very angry looking Princess Luna storms in. "Sister, what is the meaning of this?! It's 10AM and I need to get my rest if I am to rule." Her anger subsides as she sees her sister's uncharacteristically worried expression. "Tia, what's wrong?"

Celestia braces herself to break the news. "Twilight and the others have been captured and we don't know where they are."

Luna's face turns to one of horror. "Who could have taken them? Chrysalis? Sombra? Tirek? Has Discord gone back to being evil?"

After taking a moment to brace herself for what she knows is coming, Celestia looks at her sister sadly. "It's back, Luna. Nightmare Moon is back and it has Twilight and the others."

Princess Luna's face turns to immediate dismissal. "That's not possible. It was destroyed when it possessed Rarity. It was destroyed when they..." As the truth sinks in, Luna's fur turns a much lighter shade of indigo for a moment as fear, horror and shock pass over her features but they are quickly overtaken by anger and absolute hatred. "It has gone TOO FAR this time!"

Luna immediately races to the balcony. "Please Luna, we can't rush into this. We need to work together and form a plan."

Luna looks at Celestia with a dangerously calm expression. "For all we know, the Nightmare is torturing our friends as we speak. By the time that we're ready to confront it, it could have... they could be..."

With a yell of anger, Luna takes off for the Everfree as Celestia can only watch with worry. I wish I could follow but I need to organise a defence. If Nightmare Moon defeats us, nothing will stop it. Please be safe, Lulu.

Fifteen minutes later, the plains outside Ponyvile

Soon after, Void makes her way towards the flat plains surrounding Canterlot. Although she would normally just use her newfound ability to fly, she decides to walk and stop along the way to fight creatures. She needs to get some battle experience to fight the two most experienced warriors in Equestria after all. Your powers are coming along very well Scootaloo. "Thanks, Nightmare. Now we just need to-" SCOOTALOO! SHIELD! Scootaloo generates one just in time to avoid being blasted back into the forest by an indigo energy beam.

"NIGHTMARE!!!" Void looks into the sky to see Princess Luna herself flying above them with the most angry expression Scootaloo has ever seen. "HOW DARE YOU DARKEN EQUESTRIA WITH YOUR PRESENCE AGAIN?!"

Void chuckles, Scootaloo letting Nightmare take control. "It's nice to see you too, Luna."

The Princess of the Night fixes her nemesis with a level but furious glare. "Since I am fair, and you brought Twilight and her friends together, I will give you one chance. Leave your host, release the Elements of Harmony and I shall allow you to live."

Void cackles. "Why would I do that? We have plans for a new and more prosperous Equestria than you or Celestia could ever hope to create."

Livid, Luna prepares to banish the being on the spot but stops as she more closely examines the Nightmare. Though clad in Nightmare's armour and an Alicorn, the host is very clearly a filly. A filly that looks horribly familiar. "Foul creature, who is your host?"

Void beams. "Everypony has fears. Everypony must face them in their own way. But they must be faced, or the nightmares will continue. That was what you told me, wasn't it?"

Luna's eyes go wide. "Scootaloo?!!!"

Scootaloo laughs. "Nice to see you again, Princess Luna."

Luna quickly recovers from her shock and glares into Scootaloo's eyes. "Nightmare, I am only going to tell you this one more time. Leave Scootaloo's body and Equestria forever or may the Sun have mercy on your soul."

Scootaloo just grins. "Who said that I needed saving? This is so much more fun."

Luna gives Void a pleading look. "Scootaloo, we can help you to fight her influence and destroy the Nightmare for good."

Void rolls her eyes. "Princess Luna, I already told you that I'm fine. Nightmare is my friend and we're going to make Equestria a better place for everypony."

Luna's expression is one of surprise for a moment before returning to a pleading look. "Scootaloo, please listen to me. Its promises of friendship and equality are all lies. She promised me the same thing and I nearly turned Equus into a wasteland."

Void laughs long and hard. "You couldn't be more wrong, Princess Luna. Nightmare is a kind and loving friend, the kind you only find once a lifetime."

Luna is surprised for a moment before her expression turns grim. "I see. Nightmare has poisoned your mind and there's no getting through to you now. I promise Scootaloo, we will find a way to save you but I cannot allow this to continue."

Scootaloo sighs disappointedly. "Princess Luna, please listen to me. We only want what's best for everypony. We know that you're a reasonable pony who means well so, from one friend to another, please step aside and let us pass."

Luna shakes her head as she ignites her horn. "Never. I won't let you go any further, Nightmare. Here you fall."

Void watches as Luna charges a massive amount of magic into her horn for a single powerful but focused blast to instantly knock her out. Evidently, she believes that Nightmare stands no chance of dodging in time with such a young host that has no experience with her new-found power. Void grins even as Princess Luna unleashes a completely devastating magic blast which she easily avoids by instantly teleporting into the air beside the monarch. "What?"

Instead of attacking, Void teleports them both to the ground where she uses her magic to restrain Luna's wings. "Scootaloo, please fight this. Nightmare Moon is feeding you lies."

Void scoffs. "Scootaloo is dead, now there is only Void. Her 'friends and saviours' killed her in cold blood when they abandoned her with an abusive carer but her rainbow maned sister was the one to ultimately kill her."

Luna is visibly surprised at the venom in the Alicorn's voice before her face once again becomes angry. "Scootaloo, I am so, so sorry for what Nightmare has done but this has to end." She charges all of her magic into a single incredibly powerful blast. A blast strong enough to send Scootaloo to the Moon for a hundred hears. Although it will exhaust her for several weeks, she will gladly endure it to finally remove Equestria's greatest threat.

To her slight surprise, Void isn't angry or arrogantly proclaiming her invincibility like Nightmare Moon would have but instead giving her a wary look. The kind that somepony gives a friend who is about to do something insanely stupid. "I really don't think that is such a great idea, Princess Luna."

Ignoring the comment, Luna's eyes glow white. "BEGONE!" With that, she fires a single devastating energy beam that hits Void square in her smiling face with a massive explosion that throws Princess Luna back.

Almost immediately, she stabilises herself with her wings before collapsing in exhaustion. It is done. Nightmare Moon is no more. She lowers her head in mourning. "Goodbye, Scootaloo. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Princess Luna."

Luna, Princess of the Night, the former Mare of the Moon, co-ruler of Equestria and protector of dreams goes deathly pale when she sees a still smiling Void step calmly out of the settling dust cloud. "IMPOSSIBLE! Nothing could withstand that!"

Void throws her head back and roars with laughter, Nightmare once again in control. "Princess Luna, do you honestly think that I learnt nothing after living for many thousands of years before bonding with you? Have you ever heard of Star Swirl the Bearded's shadow portal spell?"

Luna is shocked. "That spell was never finished and neither I nor my sister ever found a way to complete it. How did you-"

"Know it? I'm the one who taught him how to use it! I have had thousands of hosts before you but Scootaloo is my final host and my best by far. Together, we will do what Princess Celestia is too afraid to."

Luna snarls at her former alter-ego and attempts to fire another blast but it fizzles out from exhaustion. "You will pay for what you have done, Nightmare. Whatever you do to me, Celestia will stop you."

Void cackles again. "My dear Luna, you were able to almost defeat your sister a thousand years ago and she only won because she used the Elements of Harmony. You only had a fraction of my power." She flares out her wings proudly. "What chance do you think she stands against a willing host wielding my full power?"

To her credit, Luna manages to struggle to her hooves. "You claim to bring everlasting peace but you have subsumed an innocent filly and kidnapped six innocent ponies for no reason other than revenge. Evil never wins forever, Nightmare. You can win today but somepony will always rise up and defeat you."

Instead of being angered, Void smiles and laughs in her face as Scootaloo reclaims control. "Is it really too hard for you to believe that not everypony has others that love them? You and your sister preach peace and equality but have allowed abuse to continue under the table for years. As long as it's kept under wraps, who cares right?"

Luna backs away for a moment at the bitter rone as her anger returns. "LIES!"

Void shakes her head once again. "I'm sorry to have to do this but you will never listen to me like this. Oh well, what's one thousand years to an Alicorn anyway?"

Luna's eyes go wide with fear as she realises just how helpless she is and tries to force her wings out of Void's grasp to no avail. "Anything else to say?"

One hour later, Canterlot Castle Throne Room

Princess Celestia is donning her golden armour for the first time in over a thousand years when she hears panicked yells and blasts of magic from outside. After attaching her helm, she turns just as the throne room doors are blasted open and her entire battalion of 50 elite Royal Guards are levitated into the room and dumped before her. She checks them over and is relieved to find them uninjured and breathing.

"Don't worry about them, they're just under a deep sleep spell and will wake up again in two hours. After all, thier greatest crime was serving the wrong ruler." Celestia bristles as she looks up at one of her worst enemies strolling into the throne room. Although the host is clearly a young filly, the Princess of the Sun knows better than to let her guard down. Contrary to her usual state though, Nightmare Moon's walk is not an arrogant strut or angry stamp. Instead, it is a casual trot as mundane as if she was invited to tea. "Good afternoon, Princess Celestia. I hope that you're doing well."

Celestia prepares to speak only to have a black object thrown at her hooves. Her blood runs cold as she recognises her sister's crown. "Princess Luna says hi."

Celestia's expression doesn't change but her eyes burn with hatred. "If you have laid even one hoof on her, you had better start running and never stop."

Void looks as if Celestia has deeply disappointed her. "Relax, Princess Luna is fine albeit completely exhausted but she'll have plenty of time to get her strength back."

Celestia charges her magic to intimidate the dark Alicorn. "Where IS she?"

Void just gives a bored look. "You should know, Princess. You were the one to send us there yourself."

Celestia feels her blood boil. "Your quarrel is with me. Release Luna, your host and the others at once."

Void throws her head back and laughs. "On the contrary, my host is the one with the grudge against your precious friends. I merely helped her to get her much deserved revenge. As for Luna, we had no choice but to defend ourselves when she made it clear that she will fight us to either of our ends."

Celestia flares her wings out to try and threaten Void but the other Alicorn does the same. "What pony could possibly hate Twilight and her friends? They're among the nicest ponies in Equestrian history."

Void snarls as Scootaloo takes control. "They left me with an abusive caretaker and ignored the bruises and obvious starvation because Bad Winnie always had a convenient lie at-hoof to tell."

Celestia is slightly taken aback before her firm expression returns. "Impossible."

Not intimidated by the older and larger Alicorn, Void advances until they are muzzle to muzzle. "Really? Is that what you tell yourself so you can sleep at night? That your kingdom is so perfect that absolutely nothing can be wrong inside it? That everypony can only be kind because you have taught them so? That Equestria's only problems are attacks by the likes of Sombra or Chrysalis? You're delusional."

She turns and storms into the middle of the room before pointing out the shattered doors behind her. "Even as we speak, fillies are being forced to suffer under monsters worse than anything else Equus has ever seen. Worse than Sombra, Chrysalis or Discord combined. However, I see that there is no convincing you is there?"

The solar monarch shivers. "When we're done here Nightmare, there won't be enough left of you left for me to send to Tartarus."

Void can only smile. "Come on then Celestia, let's finally settle this once and for all though shouldn't we pick somewhere where we are less likely to hurt everypony else?"

Void can tell the Princess is surprised at the thoughtfulness though she doesn't show it. "Agreed."

Shortly thereafter, the plains outside Canterlot

Princess Celestia immediately fires a large energy beam at Void who grins. Celestia's signature attack in battle has always been to try and overwhelm them with sheer power thus minimising collateral damage. She quickly fires her own energy beam and they meet in the middle which pushes both ponies back a few feet.

Void allows her beam to gradually weaken and let it appear that she is being overpowered. "Surrender, Void." Celestia advances on the faltering Alicorn who slowly sits down as if forced by the strain. "You lose, Nightmare."

Just as Celestia presses her advantage, Void smiles cockily and easily forces back the beam. Too shocked to react, Celestia is knocked down by the recoil for a moment though she soon recovers. "How is this possible?"

Void gives her a look like she just asked the dumbest question possible. "Your incredible power comes from the Sun and the power of light whereas I was crafted from shadow so our powers are equal and should cancel each other out. When you add a willing and kind hearted host into the mix though, the combined light and dark can easily overcome both universal constants."

After taking a moment to recover, and register that her nemesis strangely hasn't taken the chance to do away with her for good, Princess Celestia summons her magic. "You made a very fatal error in your judgement, Void."

Void smiles, knowing what comes next. "Whatever could that be?"

One by one, the Elements of Harmony materialise around the Princess. "I may have passed the Elements on to thier current wielders but I can still use them." Void feints a terrified look as if she has made a serious blunder.

Having calmed down considerably thanks to having the advantage, Celestia gives Void a dignified but taunting grin. "I strongly suggest that you surrender, Void. You've cheated death twice, do you want to risk a third time?"

Rather than surrendering, Void sits down in front of Celestia as calm as can be with an arrogant grin. "Do whatever makes you happy, Celly."

"So be it." Scootaloo watches nervously as Celestia empowers the Elements. Are you sure this is a good idea? What if we're wrong? Don't worry, we'll be fine.

As a massive rainbow-coloured spiral slams into Void, she vanishes from sight as Celestia smiles. That blast will purge Nightmare Moon once and for all and free her poor host who can hopefully help me find the others. And we'll find a way to free Luna as soon as-

"Ah, that felt good." As the rainbow spiral vanishes, a happy looking Void sits there completely unscathed.

"What?!!!"

Void can only laugh. "Are you forgetting the most important thing about the Elements of Harmony, dear Celestia? They banish or destroy evil but I am a truly neutral being. They are as harmless as butterflies to me."

Despite herself, Princess Celestia scowls. "You have taken our six greatest heroes hostage, banished a Princess, attacked me and my Guards, and taken control of an innocent filly without even mentioning your past crimes. How is any of that anything but pure evil, Nightmare?"

Celestia is surprised to see the Alicorn's eyes noticeably shift. Though the change is minuscule, she watches the switch switch from hard to absolutely furious. "As we said, your little cabal of 'kindness' isn't as perfect as you would like to believe. Nightmare is one of the greatest friends that I will ever meet. She's kind, understanding, and protective but above all else completely dependable. As much as we hate you for your inaction, both Nightmare and I respect you for your efforts in unifying Equus so we will ask you once. Please step aside."

Celestia's eyes go dark. "As long as I breathe, I will never allow you to rule Equestria." Celestia unleashes her most powerful attack of all; a massive energy beam channelling all of her natural energy in an attempt to completely annihilate Void.

Void sighs before firing a specialised counter beam which not only overwhelms Celestia's beam but blasts her into the Sun. "We wish it didn't have to come to this, Celestia. When you return, we hope that you'll be more understanding."

With that, Void sits down to catch her breath as she considers what to do next. "We can't just claim the throne, Nightmare. Nopony will believe us, especially when they learn what happened to the Princesses." Before Nightmare can respond though, Scootaloo has an idea by accessing thier shared memories. "Maybe we won't need to convince everypony. If we show ourselves as benevolent and kind rulers before we take the throne, they will accept us without a fight." Good idea, Scootaloo but how? Scootaloo adopts a cheeky grin.

An hour and a half later

The Royal Guards slowly regain consciousness with the messenger from before collecting himself first. "What happened? The last thing I remember is Nightmare Moon returning and-PRINCESS!" They look around to find nopony nearby and the throne room doors destroyed so they begin to worry.

"At ease, Guards. It's over but I have some... very unfortunate news to share with you." They spin to see Princess Twilight Sparkle exit the hallway flanked by a small orange filly.

The Guards adopt fighting stances. "Your highness, look out! It's Nightmare Moon!"

Twilight chuckles pleasantly. "It's okay, it's over. Me and the other Elements managed to escape Nightmare Moon's magic and purged her once and for all."

The Guards sigh with relief only to see Twilight's troubled look. "Is something wrong, Princess?"

Twilight looks apprehensive. "Before we could stop her, the Nightmare sealed away both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. Until we can find a way to free them, I will act as interim Princess in thier absence."

The Guards bow. "Yes, your majesty."

As the Royal Guards leave to spread the word, Scootaloo follows to rejoin Nightmare. As far as everypony is concerned, Nightmare Moon is gone and the Elements are safe and sound so they won't come looking for them and we have all the time that we need for her plan.

Present

A stunned Twilight slowly comes back to reality as she finds that Void has wrapped a wing around her. "Wh-whoa." Once the shock wears off, Twilight looks up with tears in her eyes. "Is Princess Celestia really a bad pony?"

Void gives her a comforting smile. "No, Twilight. Celestia is simply too set in her ways. The same ways that led to me and countless other innocent foals being abused for the sick pleasure of other ponies but, as long as she could maintain a false image of Equestria, who cares right?" She takes a moment to breathe. "Had we been given the choice, we would have talked things over with her but she would never listen to Nightmare Moon. Besides, when I had to seal away Luna, any tiny chance of peaceful negotiations with Celestia were gone."

Twilight looks apprehensive so Void wraps a comforting wing around her. "What's wrong, Twilight?"

"I'm worried about Princess Luna. She did nothing wrong and now she's spending another millennia trapped on the Moon."

Void chuckles. "Who said she was trapped there for a thousand years?" As Twilight looks up in surprise, Void looks longingly at the Moon. "As you said, Luna hasn't done anything wrong. She attacked me but, as far as she was willing to believe, I was just another poor pony tricked and corrupted by a heartless abomination. She will only be trapped for one hundred years before being released and given another chance since I need time to make the necessary improvements to Equestria.”

Breathing a sigh of relative relief, Twilight hugs her friend before turning to leave. "Goodnight, your highness."

"Goodnight, Twilight." As Twilight leaves, Void looks forlornly up at the sky. "I promise you both that the Equestria you return to will be much better than how you left it."