Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 2: New Moon Rising

The time: One week after "Virtuna Reality".

Virtuna hums as she's closing her arcade for the night.  She looks towards the Everfree Forest and spots an unusual shape.

Virtuna: *blink* Zecora?

She follows the fleeing eidolon, calling Zecora's name and imploring it to slow down or wait.  It wasn't until she came to the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters that Virtuna realized who she was chasing - and it wasn't Zecora.....

Virtuna: *gasp* whoa.....

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

Twilight Sparkle trots through Ponyville to the arcade, which Virtuna opens as Verdescale is on her back.

T.Sparkle: Good morning, Virtuna.  Good morning, Verdescale.

Virtuna: Good morning, Twilight.  Nice day as always.

T.Sparkle: Yep, thanks to Rainbow Dash.

Verdescale: *nod* She's faster than the jet fighters in "Cloud Kings III".

T.Sparkle: *laugh* Oh, yeah.

All three laugh.

Virtuna: I went into the Everfree Forest yesterday night.  I saw this weird pony.....

T.Sparkle: Ah, so you met Zecora.  She's not a pony, she's a zebra.  And she's an herbalist, using natural remedies for everything from colds to poison joke.

As Twilight Sparkle talked about Zecora, Virtuna looked at the purple unicorn curiously.

T.Sparkle: Well, I'm sure she'd like to see you again.

Virtuna: *smiles* Sure, Twilight.  I'll drop by later, K?

T.Sparkle: OK.

The two brohoof, then Twilight Sparkle trots on towards Fluttershy's cottage.

Virtuna: That pony I met last night..... That wasn't a zebra.....

The Manehattanite shrugs, then greets the day's customers.  That night, Virtuna returned to the ruins, spotting the strange pony, an alicorn the size of Princess Celestia.  Virtuna smiles as she approaches the shadowy form.

Virtuna: Hewwo.

The figure looks at her, but doesn't talk.

Virtuna: Can we talk?

Still nothing.

Virtuna (with 5secs. between her sentences, as if giving the stranger a chance to respond, which it doesn't take advantage of): So, nice night, ain't it?  *smiles*  I think we have you to thank for it, eh?  *The figure looks at her*  Aw, don't gimme that, you're too modest.  Look, I think I know who you are, and I think I can help you, but you gotta not do the old bad stuff anymore, K?

Finally, the figure talks.

?????: What makes you think you can help me?

Virtuna: *BIG smile* Aw, WOW!  Finally gotcha to talk!  *giggle*  I got a LOT of experience in helping others see eye-to-eye.  Trust me, and I can make you friends with all MY new friends, Pinkie Pie and Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle.....

As soon as Virtuna mentions Twilight Sparkle, the figure appears, not as a shadowy form, but as.....

Virtuna: *blink* you're..... you-are-nightmare-moon.....

N.Moon: *cringes ashamedly* Y-y-yes, little one, I'm..... sorry for..... for-lying-to-you, I.....

Virtuna: *smirk* I read the legend, I KNOW why you wanted to hide.  If I was in your horseshoes, I'd feel a bit bad myself.

N.Moon: .....................You are..... too nice to me.....

Virtuna: Aw, no WAY!  There's no such thing as "too nice", Nightmare Moon.  Everypony - yes, even you - deserves a friend, and you don't have to be scared of what happened last time, just learn not to do it again.

Nightmare Moon looks down at the ground a bit, then gasps, falling apart and on all four knees as she brings Virtuna to her for a hug, sobbing.

Virtuna: *hugs back as well as she can* Aw, there-there, let it go, K?, all the bad, just let it go.....

Zecora happened to spot this scene as she was looking for herbs, totally in shock at seeing the renowned Mare in the Moon fall apart this completely.  Zecora dashed back to her house as Virtuna looked in Nightmare Moon's eyes.

Virtuna: Look, I got this, OK?  I help others a lot seeing things the other pony's way all the time, and I've always met with success.  You're in good hooves.

N.Moon: I do hope you're right.....  I'll talk to them... on one condition.

Virtuna: Name it.

*Possible spot for a "To Be Continued"*

*Recap - Intro Sequence*

The Mane 6 are gathered at Virtuna's arcade per orders sent out by the little pony.  She peeks outside and spots them, smiling.

Fluttershy: Hello, Virtuna.

Applejack: Friend of ya'll wanted ta see us?

Virtuna: *nod* Yeah.  Follow me, please.

The seven ponies head over to a bridge near Fluttershy's cottage.

R.Dash: So, who is this pony you've been seeing?

Virtuna: She's kinda wild-looking, but she's so nervous.  I mentioned all of ya, it's like a shiver went down her spine or something.

Fluttershy: W-w-why would she be nervous of US?

Virtuna: When ya see her, ya might understand.

Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy exchange shrugs as the group got to the bridge.  Virtuna heads onto the bridge. As Twilight Sparkle was about to step on.....

Virtuna: NO!

Twilight Sparkle startled back into Rainbow Dash and Rarity.

Virtuna: The only way she'll talk to you is if you are all on that side.  I am the only one she'll allow to cross this bridge, K?

The Mane 6 nod, then Virtuna walks across the bridge and to the edge of the forest.

Virtuna: OK, come out.

The Mane 6 hold their collective breath, then gasp in shock as they spot who Virtuna was talking about.....

Fluttershy: N-N-Night... mare..... Moon?

She was half-concealed in the woods, but it was indeed Nightmare Moon.  Twilight Sparkle noticed something else a bit off about the former harbinger of endless night.

T.Sparkle: Not to be rude, Nightmare Moon, but..... Where's-your-hair?

N.Moon: That's the reason why Equestria isn't under nighttime everlasting right now.....  When you blasted me with the Elements of Harmony, you sealed my powers and freed Princess Luna.  With Luna back helping Princess Celestia, my powers are sealed off forever.

Applejack: Then why are ya'll back here?

Virtuna: She keeps saying she's here for something higher, that-she-could-be-better-than-she-was-before.

Rarity: Well, ANYthing would be better than she was before.

N.Moon: I know..... and-I'm-sorry.

The Mane 6 let out a collective loud, shocked gasp.

Applejack: Did..... did I just..... hear right?

Virtuna nods.

T.Sparkle: Well, it's nice that you've learned from your mistakes, but.....

N.Moon: *nod* I understand.  I just wanted to talk.

Virtuna: Ya feel better, Nightmare Moon?

N.Moon: A bit.

Fluttershy: Well, it's nice to know you changed.

Fluttershy heads off to tend to her animals.

P.Pie: Makes sure it sticks, K?  Pinkie Promise?

N.Moon: *chuckle* Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.

All the ponies laugh, Pinkie Pie most of all.

T.Sparkle: Mind if I tell the Princess about this?

N.Moon: Uh, start with Luna first, K?

Twilight Sparkle nods, then heads off.  Applejack startles up all of a sudden.

N.Moon: Hmm?

Applejack: Uh, sorry, bumper crop.

N.Moon: *chuckle*  I understand.

Applejack nods, then heads back to her farm almost Rainbow-Dash-fast.

Rarity: How long have you been back?

N.Moon: About two months.

Rarity: *nod* And the sun's been rising.  *smiles*  That'll help you.

Nightmare Moon nods as Rarity heads back to her boutique.

P.Pie: I wonder what'll make black look good on a cake.

Nightmare Moon blushes as Pinkie Pie heads back to her cake shop, humming.

R.Dash: Well, I think you're cooler now that you don't have the ability to shut the sun off.  Besides, *lifts off* I can't do my Wonderbolts stunts at night.

All three laugh as Rainbow Dash flies off.  That night, everypony was hit with a nightmare.  Not even Princess Celestia was immune as pony after pony shiver in their sleep.  This got Nightmare Moon's attention.

N.Moon: ........No........ Not now......... Not this.

The Mare in the Moon takes flight and lands in the middle of Ponyville's Town Square.  She spreads her wings, closes her eyes and concentrates, silver light outlining her.  The nightmares the ponyfolk were having were pulled out of their sleep and carried on waves of shadow to be dispelled by Nightmare Moon!  Even Princess Celestia's nightmare was swept away by her former antagonist.  The sun goddess woke up with a flash and bolted to the balcony.  Princess Luna was instantly at her side, watching her formerly dark half seeming to redeem herself right in front of them.  The shock they felt was incredible, which was also the same as the Mane 6 as they watch Nightmare Moon absorb nightmare after nightmare.  Everypony in Ponyville was shocked - well, all but a squealing-with-delight Virtuna.

Virtuna: HAHA!  What'd I say, eh?!

Despite Virtuna's squealing, Nightmare Moon keeps working until everypony's nightmare was erased.  As soon as she finished, Nightmare Moon, exhausted, collapsed - or started to, until she was held up by magic.  Nightmare Moon couldn't believe who caught her.....

N.Moon: Princess..... Celestia?

Everypony bows in the traditional way - excpet Virtuna, who bowed her head.  Princess Celestia cocked her head.

Virtuna: *gazes up* I would bow, except I.....

P.Celestia and Virtuna: .....don't have a right front leg.

P.Celestia: Right.  I was meaning to meet you anyway, Virtuna.  Your arrival in Ponyville was already big-enough news, but..... *looks at N.Moon* .....Seeing as you've converted one of our old enemies.....

P.Luna: I frankly cannot believe that the harbinger of eternal night was capable of such an amazing act of power.  To have absorbed the bad dreams of all ponies in Equestria must've taken considerable power.

Nightmare Moon, huffing, puffing and clearly exhausted as she was, still managed a smile as.....

Virtuna: You're a night watchpony.

N.Moon and Mane 6: What?

Virtuna: OK, when I grew up near Manehattan - *looks at the princesses*  across the Hoofson River, right by the tunnel entrance - *looks back at Nightmare Moon and the Mane 6* I lived in this small apartment complex.  Brick wall, three buildings, only one way in.  There was this gatehouse right by the entrance and every night - I can set my clock to this - 8pm sharp, rain, sleet, snow, hail, storm, night, day, whatever, there was this old watchpony who would trot into the gatehouse, sit on his rump and *gets forehead-to-forehead with Twilight Sparkle* glare-at-this-little-screen-for-14-hours-straight.  *2 sec. pause*  All night.  *2sec. pause*  Every night.  *2 sec pause*  Without fail.  And EVERYpony slept through the night.  Personally, I'd rather know about him once and that's all.

P.Luna: Child!  Art thou saying you don't liketh to know about this watchpony?

Virtuna: Not ex-actly.....  I mean I don't wanna watch him doin' his job.  Think: If you saw this watchpony in action - calling the cops, apprehending a criminal, etc. - it meant something bad happened to somepony - Somepony got hurt, or robbed, or their things smashed, or their house set on fire, something like that.

Everypony, including the princesses, nodded understandingly, but then.....

N.Moon: OK, then how do I resemble a night watchpony?

Just as Verdescale heads out to see what's going on, Virtuna gives Nightmare Moon a cross between a smirk and a smile.

Verdescale: -Uh, oh, here she goes.-

Virtuna: You did EXACTLY what you needed to do to be OUR night watchpony, Nightmare Moon.

N.Moon: *blink* Come again?

Virtuna: You fixed it so everypony can sleep well.  Look, I know you find it insulting that everypony sleeps through the night, but you sucking everypony's nightmares was something you do to ensure that we DO sleep well.  And that's what a watchpony does: Keeps... everypony... safe-at-night.  But you, you did MUCH more than just keep a little apartment complex sleeping soundly.  You kept an entire town sleeping soundly, and maybe - *looks at Princess Celestia* if you allow it - *looks back at Nightmare Moon* you could keep ALL OF EQUESTRIA... sleeping soundly.  Think about it.....

Nightmare Moon and both princesses came to the same realization at the same time, and the three nod to each other in acknowledgement.

P.Celestia: If you can keep doing what you did tonight.....

N.Moon: It's somewhat exhausting, but I think I can pull it off.

P.Luna: I can give you all the power you need, K?

N.Moon: *looks at Princess Luna* You'd do that for me?

P.Luna: *nod* Yeah.  I can sense your powers now..... and they're the same as mine.

The two night goddesses nuzzle up as Nightmare Moon's mane and tail return, much to the delight of everypony as.....

Verdescale: Virtuna strikes again!

Everypony looks at the emerging dragon.

T.Sparkle: Strikes again?

Verdescale: Everytime we meet somepony, Virtuna always helps them through arguments and disagreements, like, well, that for one.  Although patching things between the Mare in the Moon and the Two Sisters is undoubtedly the single biggest disagreement Virtuna's ever patched, this is par for the course with this one.

Virtuna: *laugh and blush* He's right.  No matter what the circumstances, I have this amazing knack for helping each side see where the other's coming from.  Guess it was something I was born with, along with one missing leg.

N.Moon: Well, I think you're amazing to have done this.

P.Luna: So are you, Nightmare Moon.

P.Celestia: Well, this would make quite a letter.

A couple chuckles from Princess Celestia soon evolved into a full-on laughing fit from all ponies.

T.Sparkle (voice-over as the princesses lead Nightmare Moon into the castle):

Dear Princess Celestia,

Sometimes when a problem arises, it's easy to find a solution, but other times it can be quite hard.  And sometimes, it takes a fresh perspective to approach the situation.  No matter how difficult, patience, understanding and communication are the keys to solving any issue between friends, even friends you never knew you had.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

P.Celestia: Here we are!

N.Moon: Wow.....

P.Luna: MUCH better than sleeping in the ruins, don't'cha think?

N.Moon: Oh, indeed, Princess Luna. *sweeping bow* Thank you.

Both princesses blush and smile, then Nightmare Moon rises, wearing a serious expression.

N.Moon: I sensed something while I was in the ruins.....  I felt more Elements of Harmony.

P.Celestia: How many more?

N.Moon: I..... don't know.....  All I know is there were more below the room where they..... defeated me.  If I'm right, we'll need all the help we can get.

Nightmare Moon heads to the library, still doing her nightmare-absorption ability.

P.Luna: What could it be?

P.Celestia: ......I-dunno.  If it's got Nightmare Moon scared.....

The younger goddess winces a bit, nodding.  In the library, Nightmare Moon looks through a few books before finding the right passage.  What she reads puts a panicked, almost terrified expression on her face.....

TO BE CONTINUED