-The Night-Mare in her eyes-

Chapter 2- The sun under hoof

Down far below and across the land of Equestria, sat a small little village, this little town was known as Ponyville. A friendly piece of Equestria full of ponies young and old where very interesting things were known to happen. From orchards of apples changing colors from lightning, to random creatures of the Everfree coming to visit. Yes yes, Ponyville was indeed used to the strange, however on this fateful night, on this celebratory anniversary no one was prepared for what was coming from up above. That is all except for one. A young unicorn mare with lavender fur, purple eyes and a dark indigo mane with a streak of purple and pink stood in the middle of Ponyville’s town hall staring up at the night sky through one of the building’s many windows. As The mayor of this small town readied the crowd of ponies for the appearance of their beloved princess of the sun and princess of the night a small chill ran down the lavender unicorn’s spine. Watching the white unicorn known as Rarity pull open the curtains to the balcony where the two princesses were supposed to be appearing an air of silence filled the room as all could see that no pony was there.

“They’re gone!” The white unicorn with the radiance purple mane exclaimed at the emptiness of the room behind her. Loud gasps filled the room as the ponies around the lavender unicorn known as Twilight Sparkle talked amongst themselves at the realization that they’re princesses were gone.

“Now… now, I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation.” The mayor said in an attempt to quell the crowd, only for her attempt to be in vain as the sound of wood splintering broke through the room as something slammed into the roof from above adding a sense of panic to the already nervous ponies.

“Nightmare Moon…” Twilight whispered to herself as the beams holding the cracking wood in place broke as the sound of another slam impacted the poor struggling beams. Chucks of wood and dust rain from above as two large masses landed on the balcony in front of the white unicorn. Looking up at the two masses, fear and dread filled the room. Standing before them with the broken form of Celestia herself held down under her hoof stood a much larger, even if by just slightly, black furred alicorn with sharp teeth, teal eyes, and a deep purple starry mane. With blood dripping from her mouth spread in a wicked grim the unknown figure laughed maliciously as she looked down upon the others. “Well well well… Would you look at that, Celestia.” Nightmare taunted digging her hoof into Celestia’s head with a back and forth twist. “An audience to bare witness to the retribution for your sins. You really are too kind.” She laughed as the ponies of Ponyville screamed in terror as their beloved solar princess layed defeated before them.

“Look at them trickling with fear, it really is quite annoying isn’t it. It’s almost like none of them saw this coming.” Nightmare commented with disgust in her voice. “SILENCE!!!” Her shout freezing the ponies as silence filled the room. “Look at you lot, running around in a panic as your beloved ‘Sun’ lays beaten and battered under the weight of my hooves. Do none of you have any spine? Do none know who I am?” Nightmare furrowed her brow in anger at the sight. Here they were with Celestia at her mercy and not one was willing to extend their hoof and for reasons unknown to the black alicorn it angered her.

The crowd stayed silent for a moment in disappointment towards themselves before one pony gained the courage to speak up. “I know who you are.” The lavender unicorn spoke looking up at her. “You’re the mare of the night, the terror of dreams, Nightmare Moon.” Feeling a twitch under her hoof as the lavender mare spoke. “One of yours I assume.” Nightmare said under her breath glancing down at the princess before locking her gaze on the unicorn.

“What is your name unicorn?” Nightmare asked, tilting her head down showing the mare her face in full.

“My name is… Twilight Sparkle.” The lavender unicorn answered as she took a slight step back under the gaze of Nightmare.

“Tell me Ms. Sparkle, do you know why I am here?” Nightmare questioned as she watched the young mare gulp before answering.

“You’re here to… to bring night eternal.” Nightmare laughed at her answer causing the lavender mare to flinch.

“Is that really what she’s been telling you? Night eternal? Foal, I have spent over the last thousand years in nothing but nighttime eternal.” Nightmare laughed before glaring down at Celestia before slamming her hoof into her wing. The sound of bone snapping echoed through the room as Nightmare bared her teeth. “What makes you think I would want to spend another day in such a tartarus.” Looking back to Twilight, the dark alicorn stared her down before softening her expression. “No no no, dear filly I do not wish for such a fate, who could I possibly rule if my ponies froze to death while the other half of the world burns to glass. After all, are We not royal enough.” Nightmare finished giving a slight flutter to her eyes.

“We’ll never bow to a monster like you!” Came a shout from below here as a blue pegasus tried to fly at her as her tail was caught by the mare next to her. Shifting her gaze over slightly, Nightmare spotted the mare who dared to speak up, a smirk forming on her muzzle as she looked at the sky blue mare with a rainbow like mane.

“Well well, looks like there are at least a few of you with spine.” The words coming out with the slightest hint of pride as her magical mane reached down forcing Celestia to look out at the crowd as she leaned down to her ear. “What do you think, should I not give them a chance? It would be more than what you gave me.” Celestia visibly winced through her swollen eye before her head was dropped back onto the wooden floor. Standing back up she looked down upon their faces as she saw but a few had lost what fear had not long ago struck them.

“Very well, a challenge then. At the far end of the living forest at the edge of the cliffside stands the Castle of the Two Sisters. If you can maintain the courage to reach it within three days time and best me. I’ll let your princess live. If you fail, well I’m sure I can think of some ideas.” Sweeping her eyes across the room she counted four in total who looked ready to take up her challenge, her ears picking up two more to the sides of her. “Finally, to show that I can be fair.” Nightmare reached down with her mane as she pulled Celestia up by her neck. Placing the tip of her horn to that of the solar alicorn, Nightmare pulsed her magic into her forcing Celestia to scream as the sun and moon slowly swooped places. “I hope to see you there.” Nightmare laughed as the two of them were engulfed in her mane before fleeing out the window towards the ruined castle of the two sisters.

=====***=====

No pony had been ready, as much as the young mare had thought she could prepare, nothing had prepared her for what she had seen. Nightmare Moon, the mare in the moon, the pony born of jealousy and bringer of eternal night had just left. After having succeeded in escaping her prison the ‘Mare of the Night’ had defeated her teacher and displayed her power in full hoof before issuing a challenge, raising the sun and vanishing as if having never been there at all. The only remnant of her presence being the hole in the roof of Town Hall.

Shaking her head of those thoughts Twilight Sparkle did the only thing she could think of… She ran. Not in fear, but in determination as she headed to the giant tree near the center of town. The golden oaks library, home to books old and new, yet mostly old. Twilight searched for one book in specific, one that told of the Elements of Harmony. As the mare frantically tossed books left in right, five mares entered behind her listening to her rambling.

“Elements… elements… there has to be something, I can’t possibly stop Nightmare Moon without them.” She said to herself as a blue blur collided with her, face first.

“And just what are the elements of harmony? How did you know about Nightmare Moon? You a spy? A traitor?!” The blue blur accused pressing her muzzle closer to the lavender unicorn's face before quickly being yanked away from behind.

“Easy Now!” An orange earth pony demanded as she tugged on the rainbow tail of one Rainbow Dash before releasing her grip in order to speak. “I don’t think she’s a traitor, but it does seem that she does know what's going on, don’t you Twilight?” Applejack asked as the five mares circled around her.

Looking from one pony to another, Twilight let out a soft sigh as she closed her eyes for a moment. “I had read all about the predictions of Nightmare Moon, they say that the Elements of Harmony are the only thing that can stop her, But I don’t know what they are or where to find them. I don’t even know what they do.” Twilight explained taking in a deep breath.

“The Elements of Harmony a reference guide, I believe this… is what you seek young Twilight.” A weak yet familiar voice spoke from the doorway of the library. Turning their attention to the entrance a short gasp exited the six mares as Princess Luna leaned against the wooden frame of the door, her once blue wings singed black and almost completely devoid of feathers. Held aloft within her magic was one said book, red in tone and bound with gold.

“Princess Luna! You're okay.” Twilight exclaimed, running up to the Lunar Princess, giving her a quick nuzzle.

“Okay, might be… a strong word…” Luna winced looking back at her wings. “Yet I am alive, although I am unsure of my sister. By the time I came to, Nightmare and her had already gone.”

“If you don’t mind me asking… Princess, what happened?” Rarity asked with a hoof wincing at that princess’s wings.

“A few nights ago, I had spoken with Nightmare within her dream. I had hoped that over the course of her banishment she would have let go of her anger towards my sister and I. Yet it seemed to have only strengthened.” Luna’s body slouched as she hung her head low. “Unable to deter her, Celestia and I went to confront her on the moon before she could escape. However, not all went according to plan.” Looking up with tired eyes the blue alicorn sighed deeply as she handed the lavender unicorn the book with her magic. “It would seem she had become too powerful for even us to defeat by normal means.”

“But what about these element things?” Rainbow Dash asked with hope in her voice. “Would they perhaps work?”

“That I am not a hundred percent sure. Although my sister used them to banish Nightmare a thousand years ago, I am not completely sure of there location.” Luna said watching Twilight open the book.

“Why’s that?” The pink party pony asked with her head tilt, “Aren’t you and Princess Celestia like super duper close?”

“At the time of my sister’s battle with Nightmare, I was overlooking the construction of Canterlot, after news had reached me of what had happened, I regret to say a tear was formed in our relationship. Celestia did not trust me with the location of the elements, only this book knows.” The sound of guilt forming in Luna’s words as she spoke.

“Sounds Like you knew this Nightmare pretty well.” Applejack stated, putting her stetson to her chest. A pained look crossed Luna’s muzzle as she broke eye contact with the six mares. An air of regret showing in her pain.

“Indeed I had,” Luna closed her eyes hard as she stopped herself from recalling the event before taking a deep breath. “she was like family.”
Looking at one another, the mares in the library turned their attention to the lavender unicorn as her brow furrowed. “There are six elements of harmony.” Twilight read as the others focused their attention onto her. “But only five are known, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said that the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now known as the Everfree Forest.” Looking up from her book, Twilight looked at the princess of the night as her eyes struggled to remain open before she forced herself to straighten up.

“Then.. that's where I’ll go.” Luna started taking a step forward only for Applejack to catch her as her legs gave out from underneath her.

“Oh no you don’t.” Applejack ordered holding the blue alicorn. “Not only are you in no condition to enter that there Everfree, but Nightmare Moon said ‘herself’ that that's where she’s going to be. UH eh, no way.”

“But if I do not go then who will stop her?” Luna asked as she looked dejected at the ground.

“We will.” A soft voice said from the back of the group. Turning their gaze, the once shy looking yellow pegasus known as Fluttershy walked forward amongst the group.

“Fluttershy’s right. We’ll go get those element 'whatcha you call thems' and take down that big jerk.” Rainbow Dash added hovering in the air.

Looking from one mare to the other a silent confirmation was reached among the six. “Very well… It seems my ability to deter others has failed as of late.” Luna chuckled to herself with tired eyes. “However, if you do intend to face her, then I shall bestow upon you this.” With a flick of her horn a blue aura formed around the six mares before vanishing from sight. “There is no doubt that Nightmare will sense you coming a mile away, with that you should at least be able to find where my sister placed the elements before she can become the wiser.”

“Don’t worry Princess, we won’t let you down.” Twilight ensured her as she helped her up the stairs to her bed to rest and sleep. Walking back down she looked at the five mares waiting near the door. Swallowing her saliva with an audible gulf she approached the other. “Alright everypony, we have a Princess to save!”

“Oh yeah, this is gonna be awesome!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as the six mares exited the library, making their way to the Everfree Forest.

Author's Note

Okay, I've reread this a couple of times now, I think its good.