Nightmare Moon flew fast and hard through the night. She was headed to Ponyville after her loyal cultist had informed her of where Celestia's daughters had fled to. Celestia would already be there, if not, then she would be close. Chrysalis was probably already there too. She had made the mistake of trusting that half-changeling-half-dragon. Chrysalis was the half-dragon of the wilderness and just like the wild places, she could be unpredictable.

The nightmare smirked at the thought of stringing up the broken corpses of Luna's sisters. If that wouldn't be enough to break the last bit of Luna's resolve and allow her to consume the half-dragon of the moon, then when she took her time to torture and break Celestia's daughters before slaying them would be the proverbial straw.

Deep inside Luna fought and thrashed. She wouldn't allow the nightmare to harm her nieces. She bit and stomped and clawed with all of her might. The last vestige of Luna may have been her love, but the nightmare was a beast of rage and hatred, so it could not exist or touch love or where love lived.

Luna paused in her struggling when the face of the nightmare manifested in front of her. "Stop struggling, little half-dragon. It is in vain. Just surrender. I promise no more pain or loneliness if you give in."

Luna had made the mistake of listening to the whispers of the nightmare once. True that had been after she had spent a decade locked away in a tower all alone. She had spent a thousand years held in place by gossamer chains in a crater, and she had learned much about the nightmare. It was the firstborn of the Father of Monsters, a ram so wicked and vile that it had drawn the attention of the great dragon-kings. The great dragon-kings had allied with their ancient rivals, the elementals that live far to the north, and made war against him, a war so terrible that the world still bore its scars all these millennia later. After throwing the Father of Monsters down and destroying him, they erased nearly all memory of him from the world. His true name was erased from memory so none could evoke it and summon the ram's black soul from beyond.

The nightmare snarled and lunged at Luna with a bite. The half-dragon of the moon cowered back. It was all a show. After a millennium with this beast, she recognized that it was afraid and its fear clouded its perceptions. Once the nightmare turned its vision back outwards fully, she slipped a claw into one of its tendrils that encapsulated her soul and ever-so-gingerly began to slice away at it.

Celestia was exhausted. Swans, like all waterfowl weren't the best fliers, especially on their own. For several hours she lay on the banks of the small pond regaining her strength. She glanced up at the sun as it made its way to the western horizon. It wouldn't be long before that celestial orb would need to be coaxed below the horizon and the moon would need to be coaxed above the eastern horizon.

After snatching a few fish from the pond to eat and gulping down several large mouthfuls of water, she felt a bit better. Celestia knew that a few fish and some water wouldn't be enough to fully get her strength back, but it would be enough for her to fight back long enough for Sunset and Twilight to get to safety. She noticed a locust sitting on a nearby fallen log watching her. She turned her head to face it. "Chrysalis, I know I haven't treated you and Luna well. I'm not asking for your forgiveness." She blew out a long, sad sigh. "I don't deserve your forgiveness. I only ask one thing of you, please watch over my daughters and keep them safe."

The locust thrummed its wings as it twisted its head back and forth as it observed the half-dragon of the sun. The locust flew off with a loud buzzing of wings.

"Thank you, Chryssi." Celestia closed her eyes and began to clear her mind in preparation for facing off against Nightmare Moon.

To say that Sunset and Twilight were a bit taken aback by the surprise party that was happening in the main room of their mother's manner here in Ponyville would be an understatement. Yes, they had had parties back in Canterlot, but most of those were private affairs Twilight had always been a bit standoffish when it came to public celebrations, mostly because of the hurtful names would call her in hushed tones when they thought she couldn't hear. Sunset was the opposite when it came to jovial celebrations, the nobles were less likely to speak any hurtful names when she was in earshot, but they did have a lot to say about her consorting with commoners. The reason why Sunset preferred to be around the common folk was that they were more open about their thoughts and feelings, not having to bother with keeping up a facade for the sake of what the nobles called 'the game'...plus the commoners could throw some wild ragers.

Still neither of them were expecting a welcome to Ponyville surprise party. It appeared that nearly all of the citizens of this quaint little town had shown up to bid Sunset and Twilight welcome. Every pony[ at the party each took their turn to slap the backs or hug the two sisters as they spoke warm words of welcome.

Twilight did her best to smile warmly and offer warm words back. Once the last of the well-wishers had rejoined the merry making, Twilight leaned to her sister. "I don't know about this, Sunny Bunny."

Sunset nudged her sister. "Just relax, Sparkling Star. Just enjoy yourself. They seem like good ponies."

"I'll try, but you know I don't like cr--WAAAA!" Twilight found herself snatched up and deposited onto a chair. A split second later Sunset was deposited onto a neighboring chairs.

The ponies of Ponyville crowded around the two sisters and hoisted the chairs they were sitting on over their heads, while they danced and sang. "For they're jolly good ponies! For they're jolly good ponies! For they're jolly good ponieeeeeeeeeeeessssss! Welcome to Ponyville!"

Just as quickly the two sisters found their chairs placed back onto the floor. Plates piled high with slices of cake, slices of pie, all sorts of deep fried goodies and candy were shoved into the hooves/coils of the two sisters, along with a red cup filled with a brightly colored punch.

Twilight cautiously placed her mouth of the straw sticking out of the red cup and took a sip. Her eyes sparkled as a spectrum of fruity flavors along with a fizzy sensation danced across her tongue. She immediately drained the entire cup. An instant later she buried her face into her plate *om-nom-nom-nom-nom* The lavender naga lifted her head, cheeks bulging as she noisily chewed and smacked, crumbs and frosting clinging to her face as she smile from ear-hole to ear-hole.

Rainbow Dash nudged her husband. "Hey, AJ! Looks like somepony else likes your cooking!"

The dryad stallion grinned smugly. "Yer durn tootin'! Nopony can resist th' Apple family's double deep fried pies. That's how Ah got ya hooked long 'nuff ta put a necklace on ya."

Rainbow Dash brushed a hoof on her chest floof, making it stand out a little more. She then leaned up to her husband's head and whispered in his ear.

The leaves on Applejack's cheeks turned as red as the apples on his flanks. "Here?! Now?!"

Rainbow pointed off to a door on the side of the room. "There's a servant's room that's currently being unuse--WHOOP!"

Applejack tossed his wife onto his back and sprinted off to said room. The door was shut with a slam and the locks rattled as they were turned.

As Sweetie Belle joined Apple Bloom and Scootaloo on the dance floor to cut a rug, Rarity leaned over to Spike a planted a kiss on his lips. The dragon let out a low rumbling growl and he scooped up the white unicorn in his arms and plodded off to find someplace quiet.

Rarity placed a hoof to her forehead as she faux swooned in her husband's arms. "Oh dear me! Can somepony save me from being absconded by this savage beast?!"

Chrysalis peered down onto the party and her two nieces from her vantage point perched atop a rafter disguised as a nightingale. She occasionally pecked at some tasty treats on the small plate and sip some of the yummy punch that the pink draconequis had deposited nearby. Though she drew the line when it tried to put a small party hat atop her head, she had voiced her displeasure with chirps, squawks and whistles. She shook her head disapprovingly when couples would occasionally leave the party, go into a side room and return twenty minutes later, looking a bit winded and disheveled. Commoners would always use celebrations as an excuse to get a bit naughty.

Chrysalis stopped pecking at the food on the plate. She felt two powerful half-dragon auras coming towards the town. Celestia and Nightmare Moon had arrived! She quickly flew down from her perch and out an open window. There was going to be a fight and she needed to be nearby just in case things went horribly wrong. Landing on the ground, she transformed into her half-dragon form, preparing to take the fight to the nightmare, not for Celestia, but for her nieces.

Celestia stood in a fallow field on the edge of Ponyville. Arcing her head back, she unleashed a bellow...it was an ancient eastern dragon battle challenge. She lamented having to risk harming her sister's body, but she'd do whatever she could to protect her daughters.

Flames wreathed in shadows rained down on the field in front of Celestia turning the soil into glass. The challenge was answered! Nightmare Moon landed with a crunch.

The two half-dragons circled one another.

"I don't want to do this, Nightmare. Release your hold on my sister and surrender. I promise to make your end quick and painless."

Nightmare Moon cackled wickedly. "Your precious sun is not out now and your powers are diminished. You are in no position to make demands of me." She wiped some flaming spittle from her chin. "Where was your compassion all those centuries ago when your dear sister came to you, eyes full of fear and weeping because of her visions and nightmares? Where was your compassion when you locked your dear sister away in that distant tower? She was alone and scared, begging for someone, anyone to help her. I came to her and offered her something you never did...compassion. Behold Celestia, I am the monument to your sins!"

Shame and sorrow burned in Celestia's heart. "I was stupid and foolish. I allowed vanity and pride and hubris to cloud my thoughts. I reveled in the praise and adoration of our subjects to turn my gaze away from the suffering of my sister. I sent Luna away because I was too arrogant to listen to her cries for help. I drove Chrysalis away because I allowed my own greed to blind me. For a thousand years I have begged Luna for forgiveness. I know I do not deserve it. I spent a thousand years building a better country for our little ponies. Along the way I discovered love and found two daughters that I have built a monument of love in their hearts. Nightmare, if you release your hold on my sister, I will allow you take your pound of my flesh willingly."

Inside the nightmare Luna heard her sister's plea. "Don't do it!", she cried out.

The nightmare manifested in front of her. "Quiet you!" Luna held her ground and thrashed back against her captor.

Nightmare Moon picked up a clod of dirt in her claws, shaped it into the likeness of a pony with magic and crushed it in her fist. She let the dirt particles fall from her claw in a dramatic fashion. "Oh, it is too late for that."

Above Ponyville eight balls of light descended upon the manner like silent meteors upon the manner where the party was going on. All three half-dragons noticed it. Deep in the Everfree ancient trials awakened to test the bearers' mettle.

In the manner the balls of light descended upon Cadance, Spike, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow dash, merging with their bodies. The last light split in two pieces and merged with Twilight and Sunset. If any noticed them, they would have mistaken it for part of the elaborate lightshow that had been set up by DJ D4c0n15.

"I see your plan now, Celestia. Stalling for time while your ancient weapon activates. Tricksy-tricksy! However this will not avail you as I shall slay the wielders before they can activate it." Nightmare Moon took to the air and began to fly towards the manner.

Celestia lunged forward and snagged the nightmare by the tail, slamming it down to the ground. The two coiled around one another in a death struggle. They roared as they punched, clawed, bit, slammed, breathed fire and cast destructive spells at one another. Their struggle ripped deep gouges in the earth and splintered trees like twigs. The nightmare would break free of the death struggle momentarily and sprint for Ponyville. Celestia immediately lunged back onto her.

For several long minutes the two half-dragons ripped and tore at one another like war-beasts on an ancient battlefield. The savage melee steadily moved towards Ponyville.

One last time the nightmare broke for the death struggle and bounded for the manor. Celestia barreled at the nightmare and lunged with all of her might. At the last second Nightmare Moon transformed into smoke, causing the half-dragon of the sun to pass through harmlessly. Quickly the nightmare turned back solid, grabbed Celestia by the body and slammed her hard belly first on the ground.

Celestia wheezed as the air was forced from her lungs. She coughed and spat out a gob of blood. The slam caused more damage than she initially thought. She struggled to get her legs back under her. "Ahh!" Pain erupted from her back as the nightmare raked claws down her back, sindering scaled and ripping flesh.

With a triumphant roar, Nightmare Moon hoisted Celestia over her head.

***

There was a titanic lurch that brought the party to a stop. A moment later there was roar of pain followed by a bellowing roar.

Twilight and Sunset looked at one another. "That sounded like..." "Mom."

Suddenly the wall exploded inwards as Celestia battered and bloody form crashed through. Ponies screamed and galloped away from the carnage.

Nightmare Moon strode through the gaping hole. "Oh my subjects, how I longed to see your sun-loving faces again." She paused and placed a talon to her chest in faux hurt. "What? Does not my crown matter? Have you not seen the signs and portents? have you not read the histories? Has my sister truly erased my name from all of Equestria?"

Twilight and Sunset stepped/slither forward. The naga rose up, spread her hood and pointed her tail. "You're Nightmare Moon!"

"Ah, very good! It seems that some of you know my--" Her words were cut short as a searing blast of magic sailed at her head. Nightmare Moon ducked to avoid it.

Flames ripped across the kirin's body as she charged up another spell. "You'll not take mom from us!"

Cadance, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack formed up ranks behind them.

"Ah, the daughters of the sun-whore! Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Such a shame we could not meet under more amenable conditions. However, I cannot allow pretenders to my throne and their...entourage, remain to challenge my spot for the throne." Nightmare Moon took in a deep breath, shadowy flames wreathed around her fangs.

"You'll not harm my nieces!"

With a roar, Chrysalis tackled the nightmare to the floor and flung her out of the mansion. The two coiled arond one another, battering and clawing at one another. Nightmare moon would transform into a cloud of smoke to escape the struggle, Chrysalis would transform into a swarm of locusts to trap her.

Chrysalis pinned Nightmare moon to the ground. Venom dripped from her fangs. "You will not harm my nieces! They are innocent in the matter of this ancient power struggle. I have no wish to slay my sister's body, but I will if I must."

Nightmare Moon threw her paws in front of her face. "I yield! I yield!"

Chrysalis relented slightly. "Release your hold on my--HURK!"

Nightmare Moon transformed into a cloud of smoke and flew into Chrysalis' throat. The half-dragon of the wilderness clawed at her throat in a vain attempt to dislodge the nightmare who was currently choking the life out of her from the inside. The world faded into darkness and she collapsed to the ground.

Celestia used the last of her fading strength to lift her head and extend a taloned paw to her daughters. "You know what you must do.", she said weakly before passing out.

Nightmare Moon oozed out of Chrysalis' lungs and solidified. She gave the half-dragon of the wilderness a sharp kick. "My, my, my! I forgot about your fierceness and cunning. But your adherence to honor has always been your weakness." She hoisted Celestia and Chrysalis onto her shoulders, then turned to look back at the party. "I shall go back to where this started and deal with them. Element bearers, follow after me if you dare or wait here for my return, it matters not."

***

The party had dispersed. Earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, selkies, draconequi and crystal ponies all had returned to their homes, and were currently sheltering in their basements. However the nine, along with Shining Armor, were currently in the library looking through books.

Twilight was currently slithering through piles of books and along bookshelves. "She said something about Element Bearers. What does it mean? The elemental table...no. Heating elements...no. Elementary magic...no!" She let out a frustrated hiss.

Pinkie appeared in a poof of pink smoke and confetti. "I found it! The Magic of Ancient Equestria and the Elements of Harmony."

Twilight looked over the book. "Where did you find this book?"

"I searched the card catalogue and found out it was listed under historical reference, subsection E!~"

Twilight flipped through the book. "Ah! Here it is! There are eight elements of harmony. They can manifest as gems, balls of light or glimmers of magic. When a great threat manifests, they seek out their new bearers and bond to their soul. Their hosts' souls must contain the proper alignment to bond with them. The elements are Love, Courage, Steadfastness, Charity, Empathy, Loyalty, Joy and Magic. Hmm... It says sometimes an element will find two souls that embody its power and merge with both of them. Let's see. Skipping ahead, skipping ahead. Ah! When the elements bonds to the souls of their bearers, the bearers must face a trial to prove their worth. If they pass the test, they can manifest the element's power, but if they fail *gulp* they die."

Rainbow Dash took to the air and flew around the room. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go find those elements and kick the crap out of old dark and spooky!" She flew towards the door.

Applejack extended his roots to ensnare his wife. "Now hold on fer a moment, sugar lump. Ah know yer a-rarin' an' a-champin at th' bit ta buck some flank. But we cain't go off half-cocked. We need ta know where Nightmare Moon took Celestia an' the other half-dragon off to."

Twilight flipped through the book. "Ah, yes! It says here that three sisters once ruled Equestria from Everfree Castle before the Lunar Rebellion and the razing of Everfree City."

Applejack brushed at his chin. "Ah wonder if that there Everfree castle has something ta do with th' Everfree Forest."

All gathered looked at the dark forest and gulped.

Twilight tapped her tail on a page. "It has a drawing of the Everfree castle and the forest, but it looks different here than it does. I wonder if the castle is in there. Though from what I learned in Canterlot, the Everfree is a place that has been twisted by competing magics, chaos, harmony, shadow, necromancy and fire."

Shining Armor stood tall. Allow me to scout out the forest and blaze a trail, your majesties."

Sunset stepped forward. "Stand down, Armor. We need you here to protect these good ponies, just in case."

"But it is my solemn--OW!" Shining Armor felt a stinging prick in his hind leg and a cold numbness spreading. When he looked back, he saw Twilight removing her fangs from his leg. "But it's my--hrgblrggh." His muscles went slack and he collapsed.

Spike quickly rushed over and caught the collapsing guard. "What in the holy Tartarus did you do?!" He shot a sharp glare at the naga.

Twilight stretched her jaw, retracting her fangs. "Nagas have six different types of venom. I gave him a couple of drops of paralytic and sleeping venoms. He'll wake up in a couple of hours, but he might feel a little sick." She slithered around to his head. "Look away, I need to hypnotically implant a message before he fully falls asleep."

Once the others looked away, Twilight deployed her hood, looked Shining in the eyes and waved back and forth rhythmically. "Shining Armor, if we don't return by the time the Rockhoof constellation touches the horizon, you must summon the guard regiment and the Equestrian Army to fight back against Nightmare Moon, for we will have fallen."

Shining Armor slipped fully into sleep and Twilight retracted her hood. The nine set out for the Everfree Forest.

Author's Note

Just in case I fumbled what I'm trying to convey, all the tribes of Equestria are descended from dragons, except for the crystal ponies. The crystal ponies are descended from elementals.