Shadow Wars: Dawn of a New Empire

Chapters

Chapter 5
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue

Chapter 5

Princess Luna and Defender along with a battalion of Royal Guards crept through the dense foliage of the Everfree Forest, their target was several metres in front of them. As they got closer, the sounds of machinery and metal clanging filled their ears.

Luna raised her hoof to signal that the group should stop. The small army quietly leapt into a ditch, where they could get a closer look at their target without getting seen. The factory appeared to be lightly defended, with only a barbed wire fence and several Droid Soldier patrols standing in their way. They could see that droids were loading several crates of, what Defender presumed to be blasters, onto the back of weird-looking carts that looked like they were being pulled by nothing.

Luna looked over at a yellow pegasus, who was carrying a crossbow, "Target, hide in those trees and take out those droids," Luna commanded. Target nodded before flying up into the canopy, where she found a tree branch that felt sturdy enough to hold her weight, as well as that, was in the right position so that she could shoot down at the enemy droids without having to move much and potentially give away her position.

Peering through the scope that was fixed to the top of her crossbow, Target's crosshairs marked their targets before she shot several magical arrows, in rapid succession, into several Droid Soldiers, the magic causing the droids to short circuit.

With the guards, neutralised, the platoon of guards were free to sneak up to the main door. Leaning against the warehouse door, Luna used the aura to sense how many enemies were on the other side, "The droids that are being built here are interfering with my senses," Luna grunted in frustration.

"I imagine that as soon as we breach this door, then the whole facility will know that they have intruders and that those droids that are being built will be activated," Defender predicted, powering up his blue magiscaber.

"I agree, everypony prepare yourselves, unicorns, I want you to use your horns and create force fields, while everypony else get your crossbows and spears ready to face the enemy," Luna said in a commanding tone while wielding her own purple magiscaber.

The guards immediately lined themselves up in formation, in front of the large metal factory door, with the earth ponies and pegasi aiming their spears and crossbows towards the doors and the unicorns creating a large forcefield that completely protected the group of soldiers.

Luna and Defender both used their magiscabers to cut a large hole in the door, causing large amounts of sparks to be released from the cutting. Defender and Luna started on opposite ends of the door, both of them dragging their sabers through the thin sheets of metal before eventually meeting up in the middle. With a clear outline caused by the cutting, Defender used the aura to push the piece of metal into the structure.

Almost instantly, the group came under fire from blaster fire, Defender ducked and spun his saber, deflecting the magic bolts back to their owners, while Luna used force fields to absorb the bolts. Defender then jumped and rolled towards the Droid Soldiers, spinning his magiscaber, slicing the Droid's in half with two clean and precise motions. As soon as the pieces of Droids clattered to the floor Defender looked around in search of any more Droids, but was surprised to see that the only remaining droids were the deactivated droids.

It was at this moment that the room filled with whirring sounds followed by beeping. Looking upwards, Defender realised that the Droid Soldiers were beginning to activate. The battalion was quickly surrounded as a Droid Soldier approached them, "In the name of the Imperial Empire, you are under arrest."

Defender merely raised his eyebrow, before saying, "Did nopony program you to bring more than your fists to a magiscaber fight."

The newly created Droid Soldiers looked down at their empty hands before looking back up at the platoon of Royal Guards, who now had their weapons raised and primed while Defender and Luna had their magiscabers in position, "Oh shit...RUNNN!" The Droid shouted before turning. Before they could arm themselves, the Royal Guards opened fire, the fleeing Droids, stood no chance.

***

Luna along with the Royal Guards, entered a long corridor, which led to the storage room that housed all the blasters. Two Droid Soldiers had been on sentry duty, when the Royal Guards had came into view, the two droids instantly aimed their blasters, but, before they could pull the trigger, Defender and Luna used the aura to rip the blasters from their hands, while Luna used her alicorn magic to blast one soldier and Defender proceeded to lunge at the remaining droid and then stabbed it with his magiscaber, causing sparks to fly from the droid.

Luna and Defender then both used their magiscabers to cut their way through the door that led into the storage facility and were shocked to find that the room had no guards inside. "Nightwing, must not have expected anypony to attack his factory," Defender surmised.

Luna nodded in agreeance before ordering, "I want these crates of blasters being loaded onto the ships before any more Droids decide to show up."

Several smaller airships hovered overhead as ropes were lowered down so that they could raise the cargo onto the ships without them needing to land.

***

Emperor Nightwing was overseeing the construction of the Sky Destroyer, when a Droid Soldier came rushing towards him, "My Emperor, our forces have successfully taken the cities of Trottingham and Pegasus."

"Excellent, however, I sense that there is something else that you need to tell me," Nightwing said, not looking at the Droid.

The Droid reluctantly mentioned, "A droid factory, located in the Everfree forest, was attacked by an Equestrian strike team. Multiple crates of blasters were stolen."

Nightwing closed his eyes in annoyance, "Who was in this strike team?" Nightwing asked, however, he already knew the answer before the droid told him.

"Our reports indicate that it was a small battalion of Equestrian Royal Guards along with the Elementals known as Defender and Princess Luna."

"So the Equestrians think that they can steal MY inventions without repercussions, well they thought wrong. If they steal from me then I shall steal from them."

Nightwing then turned towards the Droid, his red eyes glowing brighter than ever, he ordered, "I want you to enter all the schools, daycares and orphanages and take every colt, filly and foal that is capable or that can learn to fire a blaster."

Nightwing smiled sinisterly as he thought about how Celestia would react once she realised that she would be forced to kill foals. He then turned back towards the Sky Destroyer, which was nearing closer to completion.

Chapter 1

Emperor Nightwing was leading his army of Droid Soldiers through the empty streets of Canterlot. The city had been abandoned after his attempted coup, signs of his previous attack were still evident, ranging from rubble strewn across the streets to rotting corpses.

His mechanical eye, which he had made from a red gem, scanned his surroundings, ready to take down anypony, foolish enough to try and attack them. Nightwing thought it was rather foolish to abandon such a strategic city. Turning towards his forces, he ordered, "Check these buildings and make sure they are empty, if you find any survivors bring them to me."

Nightwing then entered the destroyed fort that used to be the headquarters of the League of Elementals. He searched for any clues that might point to the location of Celestia and the rest of the elementals. Not finding any, he then decided to use the aura to feel for any connection to either Celestia or even Defender, however he could sense none.

Nightwing walked up to a flag pole and cut down the Equestrian colours, before raising the flag of the Imperial Empire, which was a red flag with a black circle that has miniature spikes around its circumference, within the circle was a white symbol with the same appearance as the black symbol, surrounding the symbol was a black octagonal ring.

If he was to use the city as his new capital then he would need to repair the destruction that his forces had caused. Facing his legion of droid soldiers, he suddenly announced, "Attention Droids, We have successfully taken Canterlot and have got the enemy on the retreat. I want all APIs to be on the hunt for the retreating enemies. I want sentries on all major entrances to the city and patrols in the streets. If you find anypony, bring them directly to me, I shall be investigating the old archives."

With that, Nightwing made his way to the royal archives in search of ways to increase his power. Entering the archive, he instantly made his way to the restricted section; there he found an entire bookcase dedicated to the dark side. Sitting down at a desk, he began to examine the ancient texts, mumbling every time he found something interesting.

***

After he had finished examining the archives, Nightwing began to make several plans for new inventions that could help his new empire, he needed to make sure that everypony knew about his empire, so he began to design a droid that could project a live image of himself so that he could make public addresses without needing to be there in person, this communication droid could also make it easier to communicate with his forces and potential allies. His second plan was for a much larger project, they were blueprints for a type of airship that was large enough to house thousands of ponies, it was to essentially be a flying fortress. He called it the Sky Destroyer.

The Sky Destroyer would have a triangular design with three large rocket boosts at the rear of the ship, giving it large amounts of speed, the ship's bridge would tower over the rest of the ship. Unlike the old airships that were controlled by Celestia, the Sky Destroyer would have no open decks, making it next to impossible to board while in the air. It was to be heavily armoured and have hundreds of cannons that could shoot down any hostiles from the sky. There were also several large hangers that could house Advanced Pegasi Interceptors. Emperor Nightwing was hoping that the Sky Destroyers would be the backbone of the empire.

As soon as he had designed the Sky Destroyer, Nightwing, immediately ordered hundreds of droids to begin construction of the colossal airship, he wanted to have the Sky Destroyer up and running as soon as possible.

While construction began on the Sky Destroyer, Nightwing was in his newly created workshop, creating the new comms droids. The comms droids would be in the shape of a ball and would use tiny rocket boosters to keep themselves in the air, while it would use a projector to show the live feed of the pony that was using it. He wanted to create enough so that they could be sent out to all of Equestria, where he would give Celestia's precious little ponies a message of his own.

One good thing about using droids was that they didn't need sustenance, which meant that they didn't take up as much resources, however despite this, Nightwing knew that his empire would crumble if it had no creatures that were alive to live in it. He needed more land, however, he didn't want to start any conquests until his Sky Destroyer had been built; this wasn't because of fear that he would be beaten, no, it was because he wanted to send a message that his empire was unstoppable.

Looking out from his window towards the Skyport that was being used to build the Sky Destroyer, Nightwing knew that it would be months before it was fully operational. Suddenly an idea had come to him, as far as he was aware, Celestia nor any of the elementals hadn't been seen, not even by their own subjects, the same subjects that they were supposed to be protecting.

He then attempted to reach out with the aura to see if he could sense the elementals or Celestia, however, he still could not detect the missing princess and warriors. He knew that there being no indication of the elementals in the aura was a potential indicator that they were dead. Nightwing was no fool and instead, he felt it more probable that they were blocking him from sensing them; he had no idea of how they could be doing this, however, this also meant that as far as the citizens of Equestria were aware, their protectors and princesses had vanished, which made them more vulnerable.

With a plan in his mind, Nightwing then sent all of the comms droids to various towns and cities across Equestria, once they were in position, Emperor Nightwing began his message to the ponies of Equestria...

Chapter 2

Celestia was sitting on the roof of a large skyscraper and was overlooking the City of Manehatten.

She should’ve known this would’ve happened.

“Sister, you seem troubled,” said Princess Luna, joining her older sister and fellow princess onto the roof.

"I could've stopped this," Celestia said, angry at herself for her former protege's downfall.

Luna sighed, placing a hoof on her sister's shoulder, "No pony could've predicted this, not even you."

"No, you don't understand, there were signs, they were staring at me in the face and I foolishly ignored them," Celestia muttered angrily, shaking her sister's hoof off her.

"Celestia, you should get some rest." Luna urged.

"No, I need to correct my mistakes. I need to take Void Streak down." Celestia said finally before leaving the room, Luna felt helpless at the situation. Her student was not doing much better, he had been Void's best friend.

Luna decided to go and check on Defender, who had been training with his magiscaber. Walking towards the training grounds, she watched as her student cut down every single mannequin that was still standing with his blue magiscaber. "Defender!" Luna called out, halting the young pegasus's training

"Yes, Princess," Defender acknowledged, walking past his mentor as he put the training equipment back to their original location.

"That is enough training, you need to rest," Luna ordered, she couldn't stand watching, her protege train himself to the point of exhaustion.

"I can't, I have to be ready to face Vo- Him." Defender said, Luna noted the way Defender stopped himself from saying Void Streak's name.

Luna sighed, "Defender, you can't face him, alone."

"I HAVE TO! He was my best friend and he betrayed me." Defender shouted angrily as he remembered his fight against his former friend.

"Revenge is not the elemental way. Revenge will only make you as bad as Nightwing." Luna told her student.

Before Defender could retort, a royal guard ran into the room, "Your majesty, Princess Celestia needs you in the command centre," the guard explained.

Luna nodded as she motioned for Defender to follow her.

***

The command centre was located at the top of Manehatten's tallest tower, The Celestia State Building. "Why couldn't the command centre have been located on the ground," Defender grumbled to himself as Luna chuckled at his remark, her face soured as she what appeared to be a hologram of Void Streak, now known as Nightwing, Equestria's sworn enemy.

The hologram then began to speak, Nightwing's voice rumbled all around them as everypony could only glare at the evil pegasus.

"Attention Citizens of Equestria, I am Emperor Nightwing. I am here to tell you that your precious princesses have abandoned you in the face of danger and invasion. Last night, my forces marched through the remains of the grand capital city of Canterlot. While her defenceless subjects were being slaughtered right before her eyes, Princess Celestia fled in fear. She is now hiding like a coward and has left your cities open to attack. Right now the City of Cloudsdale is being destroyed after they refused to join me peacefully.

Now you can be like Canterlot and Cloudsdale and have your city, wiped off the map or you can join my new Imperial Empire and have guaranteed security and safety. Join me or die, those are your only options, you have twenty-four hours."

"Everypony in Equestria heard that message and we are already receiving reports that Cloudsdale is under attack by those flying ships. We have also lost contact with the cities of Las Pegasus and Vanhoover." A royal Guard captain said as everypony cursed themselves.

Blaze then spoke up, "We cannot abandon Cloudsdale lest more cities will join the Imperial Empire."

"We may be too late, by the time we are able to muster an army to defend the city, Cloudsdale will already be destroyed," Cerberus said.

"That may be the case but as protectors of Equestria, it is our duty to defend all cities even when all hope seems lost," Star Swirl explained.

Luna then declared, "I can quickly mobilize a detachment of Night Guards to help hold the Imperials off while we wait for reinforcements."

"Do that, we must do everything that we can," Celestia ordered, stressed out by the situation that she was facing.

***

Emperor Nightwing smiled as he stared up at the smouldering ruins of Cloudsdale. Unbeknownst to Celestia and the Elementals, he had lain a trap, while the Equestrians thought that he was destroying the city, in actual fact, he was rigging the city with hidden explosives that would detonate when the enemy came close.

He had no intention of destroying the city, Cloudsdale was far too important to lay waste to, besides, how could he rule an empire if his empire had no functioning cities.

He had ordered his APIs to use strafing runs against the city so that it would give the impression that the city was being destroyed, while several hundreds of Soldier Droids flooded the city with the intention of occupying the city. The civilians had not been evacuated as Nightwing was going to be using them as pony shields and hostages.

Below the floating city several cannons, that could fire magic bolts, were lined up and hidden by sheets of camouflage, ready to bombard the city as soon as the Equestrians arrived. Cloudsdale was more of a death trap than a city.

Suddenly a Droid Soldier walked up to him, bowing before saying in a robotic voice, "My Emperor, our droid scouts have reported that multiple Equestrian Chariots are flying at speed towards Cloudsdale. Should we move to intercept?"

"No, let them enter the city. I do not want to scare them off before they can enter my trap." Nightwing ordered.

Nightwing was grinning as he watched the Equestrian army rush into Cloudsdale, his evil grin grew wider as his keen sight recognised Princess Luna and the traitor, leading the Equestrian forces, which he noticed were Night Guards.

His mood soured upon realising that they were Night Guards. Night Guards were trained by Luna, herself and were effectively more experienced and tougher than the average Royal Guard. This did not concern Nightwing as he knew that even if they managed to escape the city alive, they would be no match for his APIs, who would destroy them as soon as they made any form of getaway.

Still smiling, he ordered, "Let the battle begin, FIRE!"

Chapter 3

Upon entering Cloudsdale, both Princess Luna and Defender were surprised to see that the city looked like a ghost town, with the once bustling streets, now completely devoid of any life. Suddenly they both sensed something coming in their direction from the sky.

Looking upwards, Luna shouted, "Take cover!"

As a red magic bolt struck the city, causing a massive explosion. The bolt had narrowly missed them, however Defender could see several more heading their way. The Equestrians dived into the nearby buildings, however, this only made things worse as upon entering the buildings, they exploded.

Defender, who was about to enter a jewellery store realised what was happening and quickly yelled out, "Stay away from the buildings, they've been rigged with explosives!"

Defender quickly took to the skies, in hopes of getting a better view of their situation, however as soon as he was clear of all the buildings, he came under fire from APIs and was forced back to the ground. That was when an army of Droid Soldiers came cascading around the corner.

"We're surrounded!" Defender shouted, pulling out his blue magiscaber and began deflecting magic bolts that were being fired from the droid's blasters.

Luna looked around them before closing her eyes and reaching out into the aura, looking for a way out of the doomed city. She then snapped her eyes open as an idea pinged in her mind. Using her horn, Luna powered up a forcefield that expanded, destroying the droid's leaving the street open for their escape.

"Quickly, we must retreat. The city has been lost," Luna said, both hurriedly and reluctantly.

The Equestrian Soldiers quickly leapt back into the chariots and taking off into the skies. "What will we do about those enemy ships?" Defender asked as he spotted several APIs flying straight towards them.

Looking towards the APIs, Luna explained, "You deflect those magic bolts, while I fly and use my magic to blast them out of the sky."

"What about their shields?"

"Those ships are small so their shield reactors will probably be weaker, besides their shields will be no match for my alicorn magic," Luna said with no concern.

Defender nodded as he flew to the rear of the flying convoy, while his mentor made a B line for the enemy. Princess Luna used her horn to take out the shields before blasting them out of the sky with her powerful, alicorn magic. Meanwhile, Defender had been using his blue magiscaber to ricochet magic bolts back towards their owners.

Luna grunted in frustration as every time she took down a single API another one seemed to pop up to replace its fallen brethren. Flying back towards the convoy, Luna told her protege, "I'm going to distract them, you head back towards the fleet and contact Celestia for more reinforcements."

She then flew back towards the APIs, where she shot down several more down. When the APIs had turned their full attention towards the alicorn, Luna quickly fled in the opposite direction of the convoy...

***

Defender watched with concern as Princess Luna flew off, with the APIs in hot pursuit. He then glanced over to the starboard side of the ship, where he could see the once glamorous city of Canterlot, now a heap of darkness and death. He had to resist all temptation to change the course of the convoy and head towards the fallen.

Defender sighed before turning towards the doomed city of Cloudsdale, the once white and fluffy clouds were now thunderous, and grey. That was when he felt it...

Looking towards a large hill, he could see several large cannons that were firing the magic bolts into the city. Then he spotted him

Glaring at the figure, he turned towards the ship's captain and ordered, "Keep heading towards the fleet, I'm going to put an end to this, once and for all."

Before the Captain could reply, Defender leapt into the sky and began to dive towards the cannons.

Meanwhile, Princess Luna, who was destroying several APIs, suddenly sensed that her student was in trouble. She looked towards the convoy, her eyes widening as she realised that Defender was going to try and attack Nightwing...

***

Nightwing was staring disapprovingly at his APIs, which had clearly fallen for the oldest trick in the book. Suddenly a red and blue blur rushed past him, slicing the barrels of his cannons in half, putting them out of commission.

Nightwing smiled as he realised, who had dared to try and challenge him, "Well well well, If it isn't the traitor," he chuckled as he heard the distinct whooshing sound of a magiscaber being activated.

Defender ignored him as he raised his blue magiscaber. Nightwing slowly turned towards his former friend, "Tut Tut tut, you come here seeking revenge. Luna will be disappointed, the elementals do not approve of revenge."

"They may not approve of revenge, but they do approve of justice and this is justice for the elementals and innocent ponies that you slaughtered at both Canterlot and Cloudsdale!" Defender shouted, pointing his magiscaber directly at the heart of Nightwing.

Nightwing merely chuckled as he powered up his own red magiscaber, "I'm afraid that will not be possible as the only way that you will be able to see your precious elementals, will be in a casket."

Defender screamed as he lunged at the deranged emperor, Nightwing quickly blocked his strikes with his magiscaber before swinging his own magiscaber around and launched his own strikes. Defender blocked these jabs and leapt over the blue pegasus, attempting to stab him in his back, however, Nightwing spun around and dodged the failed strike.

Nightwing then tried to swing his magiscaber down onto Defender's head, but, before it could come into contact with Defender's scalp, he used the aura to push him back before using the aura to pick up large clumps of dirt and threw it at the emperor. He dodged these attacks by slicing them with his saber.

Several Droid Soldiers attempted to intervene, but Defender merely swung his saber around, cutting their robotic heads off.

Nightwing, who was now losing his temper, used the aura to pick Defender up in a choke hold, before pulling him closer, where he used aura lightning to knock him backwards and sending spasms of pain through his body.

Nightwing approached the fallen pegasus with his magiscaber raised, "You underestimated me, now it is time for you to pay."

Bringing his magiscaber down, he was both surprised and angered as a purple magiscaber cut its path off and blocking it from striking the unconscious Defender. Nightwing was then pushed back by the aura, quickly jumping to his hooves, he faced his attacker.

"Luna, what a pleasant surprise. I never expected you to use a purple magiscaber, I'm surprised that the elementals approve of this. What was wrong with the blue one that I built for you?"

"Your blue one was tainted, besides this one is much more superior than yours." Luna snarled.

"Let's test that then," Nightwing said cockily, a glimmer of his former self.

"Trust me I would happily fight you but unfortunately, we have places to be," Luna said before grabbing Defender and then teleporting away.

Nightwing stared in annoyance at the spot, where Luna and Defender had been stood moments earlier. He then used his new invention called a comms link, which allowed him to contact his forces. He spoke to his API squadron leader and ordered, "The enemy must have a fleet nearby, I need you to search for it and tell me at once. Do not engage without proper reinforcements."

Nightwing then watched as his APIs began to fly around in a searching pattern for the Equestrian fleet.

Chapter 4

As soon as they arrived at the main fleet, Princess Luna quickly rushed her student to the medical bay. Several doctors and nurses began to examine him using their magic to scan him for any injuries. Once, they were satisfied, a doctor turned to the moon Princess and told her, "He should be fine, we found several indications that he had been choked, including bruising around his throat. I recommend plenty of rest and no activities that could make him lose his breath."

Luna nodded, glad that her student was going to recover from his injuries. She then made her way towards the bridge, where she told the captain, "Get us out of here, we need to inform my sister about our defeat."

The captain nodded and saluted but as he was about to turn the ship towards the direction of Manehatten a unicorn, who was the ship's navigational officer, gasped, "Our warning systems are picking up several UFOs heading towards our position."

Luna cursed, as she realised that the Imperials must've found them. Realising that if they were to make contact with the enemy APIs, they would be completely destroyed, she began to quickly form a plan. Walking out onto the deck, she ordered, "Everypony get your battle stations!"

Now standing in the middle of the ship's deck, her horn began to glow, blue as all around the fleet the ships began to glow blue with alicorn magic before completely vanishing from view, along with the sailors on board. They were now invisible.

"Hold your fire, Do not engage," Luna said, the invisibility spell draining her energy. Luna strained, the spell growing difficult to hold up as the sounds of the Advanced Pegasus Interceptors filled the air.

Three APIs roared overhead and Luna managed to get a good look at the flying menaces. From what she could see, Luna knew that the ships were being powered by four rocket boosters that had been attached to the back of the ships, while on the front, four cannons could unleash destructive magic bolts.

Everypony breathed a sigh of relief as Luna released the invisibility spell before collapsing from magical exhaustion.

"PRINCESS! GET ME A MEDIC, NOW!" the captain screamed at his crew, kneeling down at the alicorn's side.

"Captain, there is no need to worry, I am fine the spell merely took its toll, I should be fine after some rest. But Captain, it will only be a matter of time before the Empire realises, the stunt that we pulled. We need to get back to Manehatten."

"Of course, Princess." The captain said as several medics helped Luna back towards her quarters.

***

Emperor Nightwing was beginning to grow impatient as all of his scout teams came back to report the same thing: They could find no trace of the Equestrian fleet. The Emperor had planned for the droid army, to only be temporary, until he could begin to use basic conscripts as his main force.

Nightwing wanted to be rid of the Droid Soldiers as soon as possible, however, if he was to have a conscript army then he would need ponies and to get ponies, he would need cities.

Nightwing examined a map as he searched for potential targets. Nightwing needed to know where Celestia's secret base was, however he had no way of gaining that information.

Growling in frustration, Nightwing left to war room so that he could admire another new invention that he had been working on. While he may not have the ponypower to use a conscript army, he had been preparing for one.

When he entered his workshop, he walked over to a glass cabinet and smiled at the suit of armour that was on display. His new suit of armour was nothing like the gold armour of the Equestrian Royal Guard. The Imperial armour was made up of a black, temperature-controlled skintight suit. This suit provides comfort and flexibility while offering some degree of protection. On top of the suit were several plates of plastic composite, which had proven effective against unicorn magic. The plates covered the main body along with the legs and hooves, there was also a helmet that comprised of the same material as the plates. The helmet completely covered the head and had two black lenses that could tell the soldier, data about the battle along with their vital signs, it also had night vision. The helmet also filtered out smoke and dust. The suit was also painted black, making them almost invisible to the enemy at night and intimidating during the day. While Celestia would have the Royal Guard, he would have the Shadowtroopers.

***

Celestia, Luna and Defender were sat in the war room, where they were discussing their next moves. "We need our own form of air support, one that can stand up to the Empire's APIs."

"How do you expect us to get that," Cerberus exclaimed.

Luna smiled, "Simple, We take the fight to the Imperial Empire and steal Nightwing's plans. Once we have stolen them, then we can create our own variations."

"Luna as much as I would love to attack the Imperial Empire, there is just one slight problem, nopony knows where he keeps his plans," Cerberus said.

"I believe his plans will be in Canterlot most likely his old workshop," Luna stated.

"I'm sorry Luna but the Empire is too strong, If we even want a chance of defeating his forces then we will need to find some blasters of our own," Celestia explained in frustration.

Defender then spoke up and said, "I may have an answer to this. Several scouts reported that within the Everfree Forest, they noticed a strange structure, that closely resembled a factory within the forest. The scouts told me that they managed to get a closer look and that they could see Droid Soldiers being stowed into boxes before being transported onto a container ship of some kind. If we attack this factory, then we could steal their own blasters."

Blaze rubbed his chin in thought, "This would be very risky. With Canterlot, being so close you could have hundreds, if not thousands of Droid Soldiers fighting you."

"Not if we use a distraction," Luna said.

"If you have a plan that could work, then I say that we should do it. Taking these blasters could be a turning point in this war." Star Swirl agreed.

Eventually, Celestia and Cerberus both reluctantly agreed to the plan. With everypony in agreeance, Princess Luna and Defender left to gather the troops and prepare for the assault.

"How do we know if this factory contains blasters

Chapter 6

All across the Imperial-occupied cities of Cloudsdale, Las Pegasus and Trottingham, innocent civilians could only watch in helplessness and shock as Droid Soldiers dragged screaming foals away from their families, who could only do nothing, lest they end up dead.

Nightwing's reign of terror gripped the nation in a blanket of fear and darkness. Any form of resistance was instantly snuffed out with mass arrests and public executions. The Droid Soldiers were brutal, as they were droids with no emotions, they had no mercy and would often kill innocent civilians in cold blood.

All the way in Manehatten, Princess Celestia could feel the despair, that her subjects were feeling, to make matters worse, they were now receiving shocking reports that there was a group of aura-wielding creatures that were working directly for Emperor Nightwing, himself. They were being dubbed the red blades, for they also carried red magiscabers.

Celestia wanted to investigate this new threat and discover what their purpose was as well as who they were before they attacked Canterlot, however, eveypony else had decided that they needed the plans, urgently.

Celestia walked down to the Skyport to wish her sister much-needed good luck. Luna and Defender along with an elite unit of Royal Guards were going to attack Canterlot. While they were going to be attacking the castle, a squadron of Wonderbolts was going to attack the Skyports in both Canterlot and Cloudsdale so that the Imperials wouldn't be able to provide any air support.

"Luna, I have a terrible feeling that something is going to go wrong," Celestia told her sister worriedly.

Luna chuckled, "Tia, when does any plan go right?"

Celestia didn't find her words funny and instead replied seriously, "Luna, this might as well be a suicide mission. You are greatly outnumbered."

Luna sighed, placing her hoof onto her sister's shoulder, "Tia we will be fine, I faced down enough of those droids to see that they are both fragile and incredibly stupid."

"Well good luck, sister, I fear you are going to need it," Celestia said before leaving.

Both Luna and Defender looked at each other and Defender asked, "Will she be okay?"

Luna sighed again, "Honestly, I don't know, ever since Voi-Canterlot fell, she changed. She became a shell of her former self."

***

Emperor Nightwing looked at his new Shadow Lords. They were a small group of aura-sensitive creatures that had fallen to the dark side, their main task was to hunt down elementals as well as to capture any aura-sensitive creatures that were not elementals so that they could convert them into embracing the dark side and becoming shadow lords.

A wolf called Lord Grey Fang, who was the Supreme Lord and leader of the Shadow Lords, announced, "I can sense an impending danger."

"Your senses are clouded, while my source has informed me that an attack is coming, this attack is no danger. No, it is an opportunity to destroy Celestia and the Equestrian Army," Nightwing revealed.

A changeling named, Lord Orchid spoke up, "My emperor, if you do not mind me asking, who is this source that you speak of?"

"That is on a need-to-know basis." he snapped.

Suddenly a pony ran into the room, his identity was concealed thanks to the Shadowtrooper armour that he was wearing. "My emperor, two Equestrian fleets have been spotted, one fleet is heading straight for Canterlot, while the second fleet is heading for Cloudsdale," The shadowtrooper informed them, his voice sounding artificially through the helmet.

Nightwing had decided that until he had enough shadowtroopers to shut down the droids, he would use the Shadowtroopers as his personal guards.

Instead of panicking, Nightwing chuckled, "Tell Cloudsdale to activate all Anti Air cannons, Lord Thunderstruck, Lord Morthius go to Cloudsdale and lead the defence," A pegasus and a hippogriff jumped up and instantly flew out of the throne room

Lord Grey Fang asked, "What should we do, my emperor?"

"Only activate the AA cannons that are around the Skyport and mobilise all API squadrons and tell them to attack the fleets, Shadow Lords will hold the line near the castle entrance along with a contingent of shadowtroopers, Droid Soldiers can defend the Skyport." Emperor Nightwing commanded.

"My emperor, shouldn't we have all AA cannons activated, they'll be able to land soldiers in the city," Orchid said before beginning to splutter and clutch at her throat

Nightwing watched as the changeling gasped for breath, her hooves pawing uselessly at her throat, as he kept his hoof raised, "Do not question my orders again, Orchid, remember your place." Nightwing then dropped his hoof as Orchid dropped to the ground, panting. Nightwing then turned and exited the throne room.

***

Princess Luna, Defender and Cerberus, who had also joined them, were on the main deck discussing tactics. "Me and Defender will sneak in through one of the old tunnels, while the guards will deal with the forces at the main entrance to the castle," Luna explained.

Cerberus then spoke up, "I shall deal with the Skyport before meeting back up with the guards at the main entrance."

Luna and Defender both nodded, when a deckhand pointed towards the Skyport and shouted, "It's those flying things, again!"

They all looked over towards the Skyport, where they could see several APIs taking off before turning in their direction. Cerberus cursed as the approaching APIs opened fire, their magic bolts striking the ship causing wood and shrapnel to fly in every direction.

Cerberus then shouted, his voice hard to hear over the sound of the screaming APIs, "All of you head down to the city, while I hold them off, just stick to the plan!"

Defender, who was about to retort, reluctantly nodded and then followed his master over the edge of the ship. The Royal Guards glided over the main entrance to the castle while Defender and Luna flew over to the nearby park, where the entrance to a secret tunnel into the castle was located.

As they flew Defender, noticed that there were AA cannons, that appeared to be dormant, this made him slightly nervous, he then shouted over the rushing wing, "I think we're heading into a trap!"

Luna shouted back, "So do I, be ready when we land!"

Defender nodded and followed Luna down to a clump of thorny bushes, Luna used her magic to move them aside so that they could see the entrance to a tunnel that was in between the roots of an old tree.

As soon as they landed, they activated their magiscabers and swung them around but were surprised to see that the coast was clear.

Luna, who noticed that Defender was beginning to relax, warned, "Keep your guard up, they may still have enemies in the tunnels."

Defender nodded and kept his magiscaber raised as he followed his master into the dark tunnel, their magiscabers illuminating the way.

***

Meanwhile, back on the ship, Cerberus ignited his purple magiscaber as he stared at the APIs he then jumped into the air and began to deflect the magic bolts from the APIs, he then swiped at the APIs with his magiscaber, causing them to explode in mid-air. Once the APIs had been dealt with, he gathered a squadron of Wonderbolts together and then led them towards the Skyport.

Once he was over the Skyport, he destroyed several APIs that were about to take off before turning his attention towards the Droid Soldiers.

The Droid Soldiers shot at the Elemental, who used his magiscaber to deflect their magic bolts. He then leapt at the droids using both his magiscaber to slash at them, cutting their robotic limbs off, making them useless.

The Wonderbolts also assisted in the fight by diving at the soldiers, using their speed and weight to crush them sending sparks and causing crackling sounds to fill the air

They had successfully taken the Skyport but their victory was short as Imperial reinforcements began to arrive...

***

Using Luna's old knowledge of the castle, they had managed to locate the secret workshop. Their plan had worked, both the main attack on Cloudsdale, the entrance to the castle and the Skyport had made excellent distractions as the castle had been made deserted or so they believed.

As they entered the workshop, they both suddenly felt cold, however, they both ignored it and walked over to a round table in the centre of the room.

In the centre of the room, there was a large hologram projector. Pressing a button on the table and it began to reveal the secret blueprints of all of Nightwings inventions.

“How do we take it?” Defender asked.

“Hmmm, I believe, we can copy it over to a magiscreen, however, it will take time to transfer all the blueprints,” Luna said.

As Luna began to transfer all the blueprints Defender began to look around the secret workshop, where he stumbled across another hologram projector. Pressing a button a hologram of, what appeared to be a massive sphere, with a circle on the side. A female voice then spoke through the hologram.

“Project Supernova is the plan to construct a massive secret weapon that is powered by kyber crystals, once fully built it will have enough power to destroy an entire city.”

Defender’s eyes grew wide as he realised what he was looking at, he then looked up at Luna had the same reaction.

Suddenly the room felt colder as the hairs on the back of their neck began to rise, suddenly they heard a sinister chuckle.

“I have been waiting.”

They turned around to see Emperor Nightwing igniting his red magiscaber.

“You’re evil, what you are building could kill thousands of people!” Luna shouted, her own hatred beginning to appear.

“Exactly, that is what makes it a super weapon,” Nightwing exclaimed.

Luna ignited her purple magiscaber and yelled at Defender, “Go get the blueprints, while I deal with this monster.”

Defender flew towards the blueprints and cursed as they still had five minutes to transfer.

With a swift motion, Luna charges forward. Nightwing meets her advance, their magiscabers clashing in a brilliant explosion of light and sound. The workshop reverberates with the impact, causing instruments to rattle and delicate glassware to shatter.

The lights also turned red as alarms began to blare.

Nightwing grunted and pushed back all the while snarling, “You’re out of your depth, Luna!”

Luna’s wings flare as she leaps back, using the momentum to bring her saber down in a powerful arc. Nightwing parries, his prosthetic eye calculating each move with cold precision.

Nightwing chuckled as he felt the cold anger emanating from the princess, “Your emotions betray you, princess. Use that anger, embrace the dark side and together we will the rule the land as emperor and empress.”

“I WILL NEVER JOIN YOU!” Luna screamed.

Meanwhile, Defender felt useless as he watched his former friend battle his master. He then looked at the blueprints and saw that they still had three minutes left.

The fight intensifies. Luna spins gracefully, her magiscaber a purple blur. She uses her wings to manoeuvre quickly around Nightwing, landing strikes that he barely deflects. Nightwing responds with brutal efficiency, his red magiscaber cutting through the air with deadly intent

Nightwing shouted menacingly, “I will rebuild this world in my image, and you will not stand in my way!”

With a surge of strength, Nightwing forces Luna back, his red magiscaber blazing. Luna skids across the floor, her hooves scrambling for purchase. She glares at Nightwing, her resolve unshaken.

Drawing upon her inner strength, Luna rises, her purple magiscaber glowing brighter. She charges at Nightwing with renewed vigour. The clash of their magiscabers sends a shockwave through the workshop, knocking over equipment and causing the red lights to flicker.

Rechecking the blueprints, Defenser was glad to see that they had successfully transferred.

He grabbed the magiscreen and then ran over to Luna and helped her up.

***

Meanwhile, outside, Cerberus had managed to repel the Droid Soldier counter-attack and was running towards the Castle entrance, when he arrived he was shocked to see that all of their Royal Guards lay dead.

Standing above them were a wolf and a changeling both of them wielding double-bladed magiscabers. They both smiled sinisterly.

“Who are you?” Cerberus asked, raising his own magiscaber.

The wolf then introduced themselves, “We are the Shadow Lords and the creatures that are going to kill you.”

Before Cerberus could even react, Grey Fang raised his claws and sent a flurry of aura lightning towards him, sending him flying.

The changeling then shifted into a cheetah and ran towards them at lightning speed using her cheetah claws to slash at him, sending blood spraying.

Cerberus used the aura to push her off him before rising back to his talons, wincing as he did so. He knew that he was way out of his league.

“This is where the mighty Cerberus shall fall,” Grey Fang sneered before striking at him with his magiscaber, however, the old griffon managed to block him.

This left an opening that Orchid exploited as she swung down with her magiscaber, slicing his arm off and causing him to howl in pain.

Grey Fang smiled as he swung his own magiscaber around sending his head flying off in one direction while his body fell to the ground.

“NOOO!” Defender screamed as he and Luna came rushing out of the entrance. Luna then grabbed hold of him, “No we have to take them out.”

“We can’t, we have to get back to Manehatten.” Luna grunted as she grabbed the pegasus in her magic before flying off.

The two Shadow Lords watched as they flew back towards their fleet.

Grey Fang stopped Orchid from giving chase, “There is no need. We now know where their secret base is located.”

Orchid gave him a perplexed look, “We do? How do we know that?”

“Did you not hear what Luna said?”

As she opened her mouth to respond, she then began to chuckle as she suddenly remembered what Luna’s last word was…

Chapter 7

A large shadow loomed over Canterlot, ponies looked up to see a massive triangular airship, hovering over them. Unlike the other airships that they were used to seeing this airship was larger and had three gigantic rockets that propelled the ship forward. This ship was also completely enclosed and heavily defended by loads of cannons that covered the airship.

Meanwhile, inside the command bridge of the newly built Sky Destroyer, Emperor Nightwing was admiring the instruments and the view through a large glass window.

Nightwing was angry, "How dare they attack my city!" He shouted as workers cowered in fear. He was pacing the bridge of the skydestroyer, where he asked his admiral, "How long until we can launch our attack on Manehatten?" He asked angrily.

Admiral Barking, stuttered, "Tomorrow, if we rush things, my emperor."

"THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" Nightwing roared as he started to aura choke the admiral, he then threw the admiral across the room as Lord Orchid and Greyfang entered the room.

The two shadow lords bowed before saying, "My emperor, I believe that we can infiltrate the city and assassinate, Celestia,"

"No, I want to be the pony that kills Celestia, besides, I have a plan," The emperor said as both Orchid and Greyfang looked at each other, then Nightwing ordered, "CLEAR THE ROOM!"

Everypony quickly left, while the two shadow lords were reluctant to follow but quickly changed their minds as Nightwing gave them a harsh look.

Once the room was cleared, Nightwing activated a communication droid, where a hooded figure appeared in a hologram, "Lord Deceptor, what is your current status?" Nightwing asked.

The hooded figure then replied in a posh voice, "I have not been discovered and I am ready to follow your orders, my emperor"

"Excellent, I need you to turn the two sisters against each other, I sense that they are both weak but from our recent encounter, I believe that Luna is more susceptible to falling to the dark side."

"Yes, my emperor, how should it be done?"

"I do not care, how it should be done, just don't make it obvious." Nightwing snapped.

"It shall be done, my emperor."

"One more thing, we will be attacking tomorrow, your identity is still hidden and unknown to our forces, do not reveal yourself to anypony, including our forces. And try not to get yourself killed." Nightwing said as he shut the hologram off.

***

Princess Celestia and the remaining elementals were stood around a brand new statue. It had been created to honour Cerberus as they had been unable to retrieve his body.

Princess Luna then looked over at her student, Defender had not taken his death well, she could tell that the young pegasus blamed himself for the whole war.

She treated Defender more like a son than a student and it pained her to see him like this. "There was nothing, you could've done,]" Luna told him.

Defender didn't say anything but instead nodded glumly, he then said, "I need to go lie down." Not waiting for a reply, he left for his room.

Luna wanted to stop him but decided that he needed some space, that was when she saw a crumpled-up piece of paper fall in front of her. She looked at the paper ball with interest, normally she would consider it a piece of trash but for some unknown reason, she felt like something was pulling her to the piece of paper.

Grabbing the paper with her magic she unfurled it to see that it was a note.

Luna,

I have something urgent to tell you. Meet me on Friendship Island at one am.

A friend

Luna was now suspicious, every instinct screamed that it was a trap, but Luna was too intrigued to ignore it.

***

Luna landed on the island, the Statue Of Friendship, watched over her like a green, metal guardian. Walking around the base of the statue, Luna noticed a mysterious cloaked pony, standing on the end of the pier.

When she walked onto the pier, the cloaked pony then bowed and greeted, "Princess, I am glad that you came."

Luna tried to recognise the voice but she realised that the pony's voice was being masked by a spell, "Who are you?" She asked as she gazed at the pony, her eyes full of suspicion.

"I am afraid that I have to keep my identity hidden, for she has eyes and ears everywhere." The pony said while looking around them to check if they were indeed alone.

"Who has eyes, everywhere?" Luna asked, still not trusting the cloaked pony.

"Celestia!" The pony spat.

"What about Celestia?" Luna asked, her distrust deepening.

"I am afraid that I can not say much but there is a sinister plot in the works. Celestia has grown power-hungry, she wants the crown for herself. She is planning on killing you!"

"WHAT! Celestia would never, she loves me, we are family! I should arrest you for treason."

"Does she? I have always seen you two separated, I have never seen you together, it looks like she is shutting you out."

"She's been busy with the war."

The pony released a hollow laugh, "She is a princess and the ruler of Equestria, she has generals and advisors to deal with the war. Face it your sister doesn't love you, all she sees in you is a wall that is blocking her from taking full control. Search your feelings, you know it to be true, your sister hates you."

Luna was stunned at first she didn't believe this mysterious stranger but now that she thought about it, Celestia had been distant.

The pony then looked around again before hurriedly saying, "You must act and stop her before it is too late. I have to go now but remember, you are the only pony that is strong enough to defeat Celestia!" The pony then jumped into the water below and vanished.

Luna quickly rushed to the edge of the pier and looked down but was disappointed to find no sign of the pony. Luna then began to head home, her head filled with dark thoughts about Celestia, she didn't want to believe that Celestia could have been corrupted, but ever since Nightwing came to power, Celestia had been different. Luna then began to ask herself,

What is Void, wasn't the only pony to fall to the dark side on that dreadful night..."

Chapter 8

The city of Manehattan shook as explosions swept across the skyline, sending plumes of smoke and debris into the air. Citizens ran through the streets, their panic palpable as they sought shelter from the chaos. Above them, several massive airships loomed ominously, their engines emitting a low thrum that matched the heartbeats of those below. The relentless onslaught of cannon fire echoed throughout the city, punctuating the air with terror.

On the streets, Princess Celestia stood resolute, her golden armour glinting in the fiery glow of the destruction around her. She surveyed the chaos, her heart heavy with the weight of her responsibilities. "We must evacuate the civilians!" she commanded, her voice cutting through the din of battle.

Around her, the remaining elementals and Royal Guards rallied, quickly forming groups to assist those in need. The Wonderbolts soared overhead, attempting to counter the enemy airships with their agility and speed. Celestia's mind raced as she formulated a plan, but uncertainty gnawed at her. She knew the time for hesitation was over; they had to strike back against Nightwing's forces.

Meanwhile, in the depths of the city, Luna paced restlessly within the Royal Palace. The news of the assault had reached her swiftly, and with every passing moment, her sense of urgency intensified. "Defender!" she called out, her voice echoing off the grand marble walls.

The young pegasus appeared, still grappling with his grief but determined to fight for his fallen mentor. "What do you need, Princess?" he asked his expression a mix of resolve and lingering sorrow.

"We cannot allow Nightwing to destroy Manehattan. We must regroup with the Royal Guards and push back his forces," Luna declared, her eyes ablaze with determination.

Defender nodded, feeling a spark of purpose ignite within him. "I'm with you, Princess. Let's do this."

As they made their way through the palace, the ground trembled beneath them, a stark reminder of the chaos unfolding outside. Luna felt the weight of her sister’s trust on her shoulders; she would not fail her or the ponies of Equestria.

***

Back in the skies above, Emperor Nightwing stood on the bridge of the Sky Destroyer, surveying the devastation with grim satisfaction. His eyes narrowed as he watched the chaos below, and he turned to Admiral Barking, who was nervously adjusting the control panel.

"How much longer until we can deploy our ground forces?" Nightwing demanded, his voice cold and commanding.

"Just a few more minutes, my emperor. The cannons are still—" Barking began, only to be cut off by a sudden jolt of turbulence.

"Enough with the delays!" Nightwing snapped, his eyes flashing with fury. "Deploy the Shadow Lords now! I want them to crush any resistance before it can even begin."

With a swift nod, Barking activated the order, and the deck trembled as the Shadow Lords prepared to descend into the fray. The dark figures, cloaked and menacing, gathered at the launch bay, their magiscabers glowing ominously in the dim light.

***

As Luna and Defender burst onto the streets of Manehattan, the scene before them was one of utter destruction. Buildings were reduced to rubble, and fires blazed wildly, painting the sky with an eerie glow. "We need to find the others!" Luna shouted, scanning the chaos for any sign of her sister or the Royal Guards.

Suddenly, a series of explosions erupted nearby, sending shockwaves through the ground. Defender instinctively shielded his eyes from the debris, his heart racing. "Over there!" he pointed as he spotted a group of Royal Guards attempting to assist injured civilians.

They sprinted towards them, determination propelling them forward. "We have to regroup and plan our counterattack!" Luna exclaimed as they reached the guards.

The Captain of the Royal Guards, a sturdy earth pony named Captain Shield, nodded. "We've been trying to hold the line, but the enemy is relentless. We need to take out their airships if we have any chance of turning the tide."

Luna's eyes gleamed with fierce resolve. "Then let’s do just that. We need to get to the rooftops for a better vantage point."

Defender felt a surge of adrenaline as they moved through the streets, dodging debris and helping those in need. He could feel the weight of their mission, and the memory of Cerberus fueled his determination.

As they reached a nearby building, they climbed the stairs rapidly, their hearts pounding in unison. Upon reaching the rooftop, the view before them was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The sky was filled with airships, and below, the remnants of Manehattan lay in chaos.

"We need to find a way to disrupt their command," Luna said, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the Sky Destroyer looming ominously overhead. "If we can take out their leadership, we can sow confusion among their ranks."

Defender nodded, focusing on the airships. "I can use my agility to get close enough. Just give me a signal."

Luna looked at him, concern etched on her face. "Be careful, Defender. I can’t lose anyone else."

He offered her a reassuring smile, but deep down, uncertainty gnawed at him. "I’ll be fine. Just be ready to provide cover."

As they prepared for the assault, a chilling sound pierced the air: the whirring of the Shadow Lords descending from the Sky Destroyer. Luna's heart sank as she saw them land with menacing grace, ready to engage.

"We’ll need to fight our way through them," she said, steeling herself for the confrontation.

Defender clenched his magiscaber, the weight of the weapon comforting in his grasp. "Then let’s show them what we’re made of."

With their resolve set, they charged forward, ready to face the darkness that threatened their home. The fate of Manehattan, and perhaps all of Equestria, rested on their shoulders.

***

Luna and Defender charged into the fray, their magiscabers blazing with determination. The Shadow Lords, now fully engaged in their assault, swarmed through the streets, their dark energy contrasting sharply with the burning fires and smoke. As Luna and Defender fought their way through the chaos, they encountered fierce resistance.

Lord Grey Fang, wielding his double-bladed magiscaber with deadly precision, cleaved through the defenders with ease. His aura lightning crackled around him, sending sparks and destruction in every direction. His eyes gleamed with a malevolent delight as he carved a path of devastation through the city.

Across the battlefield, Lord Orchid transformed into her cheetah form, her speed and agility allowing her to strike quickly and disappear before her enemies could retaliate. Her sharp claws and relentless assault kept many of the Royal Guards on the defensive, their efforts to counter her proving futile.

Defender, pushing through the fray, aimed his magiscaber at the approaching Shadow Lords. "Luna, I’ll handle Grey Fang! You take care of Orchid!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the clamour of battle.

Luna nodded, her resolve steeled by the sight of the enemy's ferocity. She leapt into the air, her wings propelling her towards Lord Orchid. The cheetah-like Shadow Lord hissed as she saw Luna approaching, her eyes narrowing with a predatory glint.

"Come to face me yourself, Princess?" Orchid taunted, her voice a low growl. "How quaint."

Luna charged forward, her magiscaber clashing with Orchid's as they met in a burst of energy. The two combatants circled each other, their weapons flashing in the dim light. Luna’s strikes were swift and precise, but Orchid's agility made her a difficult target.

Meanwhile, Defender engaged Grey Fang, who seemed almost unfazed by the young pegasus’s assault. The battle between them was intense, with magiscabers clashing and sparks flying. Grey Fang’s aura lightning lashed out, forcing Defender to remain on constant guard.

“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” Grey Fang snarled, swinging his magiscaber in a wide arc. “But persistence won’t save you from your inevitable defeat.”

Defender gritted his teeth, sweat streaming down his face as he parried the attacks. “I’m not here to win against you alone,” he said, pushing back with renewed strength. “I’m here to protect Equestria.”

Across the battlefield, Celestia and the remaining elementals fought valiantly to hold back the enemy's advance. The Wonderbolts continued their aerial assault on the enemy airships, their speed and skill making them a thorn in the side of Nightwing's forces. Despite their bravery, the sheer number of enemy troops was overwhelming, and the situation remained dire.

As Luna and Orchid’s fight continued, Luna noticed a shift in the shadows—something dark and sinister moving among the debris. The mysterious cloaked figure from Friendship Island was here. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized the figure's presence. She was momentarily distracted, giving Orchid an opening to land a powerful blow.

Luna stumbled, barely managing to deflect Orchid's follow-up attack. Her thoughts raced as she tried to process the presence of the mysterious figure. “Why are you here?” she shouted, her voice strained from the exertion.

The cloaked figure remained silent, their presence more a sinister omen than a direct threat. Luna could feel their dark energy swirling, a palpable force that seemed to strengthen the Shadow Lords.

As Luna refocused on Orchid, she felt a surge of strength from within, a reminder of her sister’s teachings and the bond they shared. She used this newfound resolve to press forward, her strikes becoming more forceful and precise. With a final, powerful blow, Luna managed to knock Orchid back, sending her sprawling across the ground.

Meanwhile, Defender, though exhausted, had managed to outmanoeuvre Grey Fang, striking a critical blow that forced the Shadow Lord to retreat. Panting heavily, Defender turned to Luna, who had looked back towards the cloaked figure, however they had vanished.

“We need to end this,” Luna said, her voice resolute despite her fatigue. “This battle is far from over, but we have to find a way to turn the tide.”

Defender nodded, his gaze shifting to the remaining enemy forces. “What do we do next?”

Luna looked out over the battlefield, her mind racing with strategies. “We need to disrupt Nightwing’s command. If we can get to the Sky Destroyer and take out their leadership, we might be able to bring an end to this chaos.”

As if in response, a new wave of enemy forces surged forward, their intent clear: to crush any hope of a counterattack. Luna and Defender steeled themselves, preparing for one final push.

The two warriors fought their way through the streets, their combined strength proving formidable against the enemy. They moved with purpose, each step bringing them closer to the Sky Destroyer and the heart of Nightwing’s operations.

As they neared the massive airship, the battle reached a fever pitch. Celestia, her own energy waning but her resolve unshaken, fought alongside her remaining forces, her eyes scanning for any sign of her sister and Defender.

Luna and Defender made their way up the exterior of the Sky Destroyer, their path illuminated by the fiery glow of the ongoing battle. The airship’s defences were formidable, but they were determined to breach the command bridge and confront Nightwing.

With a final, determined effort, they reached the top of the airship, their magiscabers ready for the confrontation ahead. As they pushed through the airship’s entrance, they prepared to face the enemy leader and put an end to the conflict.

The fate of Manehattan, and perhaps all of Equestria, hung in the balance as Luna and Defender prepared for the decisive battle against Emperor Nightwing.

***

Luna and Defender burst through the entrance of the Sky Destroyer’s command bridge, their magiscabers blazing with fierce determination. The room was filled with a cacophony of alarms and the clattering of machinery as Nightwing's forces scrambled to respond to the intruders.

At the far end of the command bridge, Emperor Nightwing stood at the centre of a large control console, his red magiscaber glowing ominously. His gaze turned cold as he saw Luna and Defender. A cruel smile curved his lips.

“So, you’ve finally decided to show yourselves,” Nightwing sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “I must admit, I didn’t expect you to reach this far.”

Luna stepped forward, her eyes blazing with defiance. “This ends now, Nightwing. We’re putting a stop to your reign of terror!”

Defender, standing beside Luna, readied his magiscaber. “You’ve caused enough pain and destruction. Surrender, or face the consequences.”

Nightwing’s smile widened. “Such bravado. But you’re too late. My plans are already in motion. The destruction of Manehattan is only the beginning.”

Without warning, Nightwing ignited his magiscaber and lunged at Luna with a burst of dark energy. Luna barely managed to deflect the attack, her magiscaber clashing with Nightwing’s in a shower of sparks. The force of the blow sent her skidding backwards, but she quickly recovered, leaping back into the fray.

Defender moved to engage Nightwing as well, his magiscaber slashing through the air with precision. Nightwing spun to meet him, their weapons clashing in a series of rapid exchanges. The red light of Nightwing’s magiscaber was almost blinding, its power palpable as it cut through the air.

Luna, catching her breath, joined the battle, her strikes aimed to overwhelm Nightwing. The emperor moved with a practised ease, his prosthetic eye calculating each move with cold efficiency. His attacks were ruthless, aiming to exploit any opening in his opponent’s defences.

Despite their combined efforts, Nightwing was a formidable opponent. He twisted and dodged with a sinister grace, his red magiscaber slicing through the air with deadly precision. The battle was intense, the sound of clashing magiscabers echoing through the command bridge.

“You think you can defeat me so easily?” Nightwing taunted, his voice a harsh rasp. “I am invincible!”

Luna gritted her teeth, pushing through the fatigue. “We’re not finished yet!”

As the fight raged on, Luna and Defender began to notice a pattern in Nightwing’s movements. They coordinated their attacks, trying to outmanoeuvre the emperor. But just as they seemed to gain an upper hand, Nightwing’s expression darkened with fury.

With a sudden burst of dark energy, Nightwing unleashed a powerful wave that knocked both Luna and Defender off their feet. The force of the blast sent them crashing into the control console, causing sparks to fly and alarms to blare louder.

Nightwing stepped back, his eyes glowing with a dark intensity. “You’re more resilient than I anticipated. But this is where your journey ends.”

He turned and began to activate a series of controls on the console, his movements precise and methodical. The airship trembled, and the alarms grew more frantic.

“No!” Luna shouted, pushing herself to her hooves. “We can’t let him escape!”

But Nightwing was already making his way to a hidden escape pod at the rear of the command bridge. He glanced over his shoulder with a smirk as he sealed the pod’s entrance.

“You’ve been a worthy adversary,” he called out. “But I have more pressing matters to attend to. Farewell!”

With that, the escape pod jettisoned from the Sky Destroyer, streaking through the air and disappearing into the distance.

Luna and Defender, still recovering from the blast, watched helplessly as the pod vanished. The command bridge was now in disarray, with sparks flying and the airship’s systems going haywire.

Luna’s eyes burned with frustration. “We almost had him…”

Defender, still catching his breath, looked around at the chaos. “We need to stop this airship before it causes more damage.”

Luna nodded, her expression determined. “Agreed. Let’s secure the bridge and find a way to disable the Sky Destroyer.”

The two of them worked quickly, using their magiscabers to cut through the damaged control systems and disable the ship’s weapons. Their efforts were frantic but focused, each movement aimed at averting further disaster.

As they worked, the Sky Destroyer’s engines began to falter, the massive airship’s power systems failing. The ship’s trajectory shifted, its control slipping from Nightwing’s grasp.

Outside, the battle in Manehattan continued, the skies filled with the smoke and fire of ongoing combat. But with the Sky Destroyer’s threat neutralized, Luna and Defender felt a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

As they completed their task, Luna glanced at Defender, a mix of relief and determination in her eyes. “We’ve done what we can here. We need to get back to Manehattan and support the others.”

Defender nodded in agreement. “Let’s go. We still have a fight to win.”

The two of them made their way back to the city, their resolve strengthened by their encounter with Nightwing. Though the battle was far from over, they knew that every step they took brought them closer to victory.

In the distance, the remnants of the Sky Destroyer began to drift away, its once-formidable presence now a smoldering wreck. The battle for Manehattan, and the fate of Equestria, hung in the balance as Luna and Defender prepared for the next phase of their struggle.

Their journey was far from finished, but their courage and determination would guide them through the trials ahead.

chapter 9

Following the battle of Manehatten, Princess Celestia and her remaining armies were forced to travel to the frozen north where they have now set up base within an old bunker that Sombra's forces had once used during the crystal war.

Within the war room, they began to strategize their next move. The atmosphere was tense but charged with determination.

“We need to hit Nightwing where it hurts,” Luna said, pacing back and forth. “Canterlot is crucial to his operations, but he’s focused on consolidating power after losing the Sky Destroyer.”

Defender nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. “What if we create a diversion? If we can make him think another city is under attack, he might divert his forces away from Canterlot.”

Luna's eyes lit up at the idea. “Exactly! If we strike somewhere like Trottingham or Las Pegasus, it could draw his attention and give us the needed opening.”

The gathered leaders murmured in agreement, the plan beginning to take shape. Just then, Star Swirl, the legendary wizard, stepped forward. His presence commanded respect, and his eyes gleamed with a fierce determination.

“I will lead a strike team into Canterlot once we draw Nightwing out,” Star Swirl declared. “He won’t expect a direct assault with his forces distracted.”

Luna and Defender exchanged glances, a mix of excitement and concern. “But how do we ensure that Nightwing takes the bait?” Defender asked.

“We can spread false intel through our spies,” Luna suggested. “We can make it seem like a large-scale assault is underway. Nightwing will have to react.”

Star Swirl nodded, his mind already working through the logistics. “I can use my magic to amplify the illusion. If we project the image of an attack, he won’t be able to ignore it.”

With their plan set in motion, the group quickly mobilized, dividing tasks and gathering resources. Star Swirl prepared spells to enhance their deception while Luna and Defender coordinated with the remaining troops to ensure a swift execution of the strategy.

***

Within the throne room of Canterlot Castle, troubling reports started to seep their way into Emperor Nightwing's ears. A captain of his newly formed Imperial Security Agency, or ISA, which was responsible for managing Imperial Security as well as hunting down enemies of the state, rushed into the throne room, panting, he exclaimed, "My Emperor, Trottingham is under attack by Equestrian forces!"

Instead of being concerned about the startling news, Nightwing smirked, "So, dear old Celestia still thinks that she can save her pathetic, little kingdom." The room grew cold as the Emperor began to laugh, "It is a shame, that it is simply too little, too late."

Turning to the ISA captain, he ordered, "Dispatch a Sky Destroyer along with a squadron of APIs, they should be more than capable of dealing with this measly threat."

The ISA Captain quickly saluted and rushed off to follow his Emperor's orders, and Nightwing went back to thinking about upgrading his current fleet of Advanced Pegasi Intercepters.

However as the day passed the reports grew more serious and concerning, Nightwing gritted his teeth in frustration as he was forced to pull several platoons of Shadowtroopers away from Canterlot to fight the growing threat.

***

Unbeknownst to Nightwing, the whole attack on Trottingham had been a cunning ploy to lure Imperial forces out of Canterlot and leave the city defenceless.

With Nightwing distracted, Star Swirl led his strike team into Canterlot. They moved swiftly and stealthily, taking advantage of the confusion surrounding them. As they approached the castle, Star Swirl felt the weight of the moment pressing upon him.

“Stay close,” he instructed his team. “We need to get to Nightwing before he realizes what’s happening.”

Inside the castle, Nightwing stood in his throne room, seething with rage as he received reports of the supposed attack. He slammed his hoof on the armrest of his throne, causing the guards to flinch.

“I won’t be drawn away from Canterlot,” he growled. “Prepare the droids! We must crush whoever dares to challenge me!”

But just as he turned to issue his orders, the doors burst open. Star Swirl and his team stormed in, magiscabers drawn and ready for battle.

“Nightwing!” Star Swirl called, his voice booming through the hall. “Your tyranny ends here!”

Nightwing’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the old wizard. “Star Swirl the Bearded,” he sneered. “How quaint of you to come here. You’re a fool if you think you can defeat me.”

With a flick of his wrist, Nightwing ignited his red magiscaber, its glow illuminating the dark room. The tension crackled in the air as the two powerful beings faced off, the fate of Equestria hanging in the balance.

They clashed in a whirlwind of magical energy, each strike resonating with power. Star Swirl’s white magiscaber glowed brightly as he countered Nightwing’s dark strikes, their battle reverberating through the castle.

“You’ve grown strong, but you still rely on outdated tricks,” Nightwing taunted, pushing Star Swirl back with a surge of dark energy. “You cannot hope to defeat me.”

Star Swirl gritted his teeth, drawing upon the depths of his magic. “I may be old, but I’m not out of tricks just yet!”

With a powerful thrust, Star Swirl unleashed a wave of pure light, forcing Nightwing to stagger back. Powering his horn, Star Swirl summoned a portal to appear behind the evil emperor, however Nightwing sensing the danger, quickly leapt into the air, where he flew over Star Swirl and landed behind him, with Star Swirl, now standing between Nightwing and the portal, with a wicked grin, Nightwing roared, “Let’s see how you handle this!”

Nightwing then unleashed a torrent of aura lightning into the old unicorn sending him flying into the portal, his magiscaber lay cracked on the ground as the portal vanished.

***

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the city, both Luna and Defender, clutched their hearts as they felt Star Swirl being sucked into the portal.

"no..." Defender whispered, his eyes turned to pinpricks as he realised with horror that Star Swirled was lost.

Luna quickly composed herself, before looking into her student's eyes, she then told him, "We need to get to Nightwing and finish what he started."

Before Defender could say anything, a regal voice cut through them, "No, Nightwing was my student, I will be the one to end this... to end it all."

Both Luna and Defender turned to find Celestia standing there, with her head held high, however, she was sporting a grim look of determination.

Before they could stop her, Celestia then swept into the air; just as Defender was about to follow her, Luna stopped him, "No, this is her fight... she needs this." Defender gave her a worried look but didn't argue.

***

Nightwing was laughing maniacally as he stared at the spot where Star Swirl vanished through the portal. Suddenly The doors to the throne room were thrown open as Celestia entered.

This only made Nightwing's grin widen, "I have been expecting you, The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner, but now I am the master."

Celestia sighed, slowly shaking her head, while igniting her golden magiscaber, "Only a master of evil, Void."

Upon hearing his old name, Nightwing snarled as he ignited his own crimson blade and With that, the two powerful beings charged at each other. Their blades clashed in a shower of sparks, the sound resonating like thunder throughout the castle. Celestia’s magic radiated warmth and brilliance, while Nightwing’s dark energy pulsed with an ominous chill.

Nightwing was relentless, slashing at Celestia with a ferocity fueled by rage. Each strike was calculated, aimed to overwhelm her defences. But Celestia met his aggression with grace and strength, parrying his blows and countering with swift strikes of her own.

“Your darkness cannot consume Equestria, Nightwing!” Celestia shouted, her voice ringing out like a clarion call. “You’ve lost your way!”

“Lost?” he hissed, spinning around and unleashing a wave of dark energy that crashed against her barrier. “I have found power beyond your comprehension! Equestria will kneel before me!”

Celestia absorbed the impact, her aura flaring brightly as she pushed back against the shadows. “You were once a protector, a guardian! This isn’t you!”

Nightwing’s eyes flickered with doubt for a brief moment, but it quickly turned into rage. “You’re too sentimental, Celestia! This world needs strength, not love!”

With a swift manoeuvre, Nightwing lunged at her, attempting to thrust his blade deep into her side. But Celestia sidestepped, catching his arm and redirecting his momentum, sending him crashing into a nearby pillar.

“Strength without compassion is tyranny!” she retorted, pressing her advantage as she closed the distance. She unleashed a series of strikes, each one more powerful than the last.

The throne room trembled as their duel escalated. Celestia conjured a brilliant light, surrounding herself in a radiant shield that reflected Nightwing’s dark energy back at him. He staggered back, shock and anger mingling on his face.

“This ends now!” Celestia declared, gathering her strength for one final attack. With a powerful thrust of her magiscaber, she unleashed a wave of golden light that surged toward Nightwing, enveloping him in a blinding radiance.

“No!” he cried, raising his blade to block, but the light consumed him. He screamed as the magic pushed him back, forcing him toward the edge of the throne room.

As the brilliance faded, Nightwing found himself on the brink of the balcony, the vastness of Canterlot sprawling below him. Backed into a corner, Nightwing released a floury of aura lightning at his former master, however, Celestia merely repelled it with a powerful forcefield that sent it back towards him, which caused him to fly out over the balcony, Celestia then released one powerful forcefield that expanded and slammed into Nightwing, sending him flying into the distance...

Panting Celestia watched with despair as her former student vanished into the night as the equestrian flag was raised over Canterlot, symbolising the city back under the control of the light.

Chapter 10

Within the command bridge of a Sky Destroyer, Emperor Nightwing, brooded over his defeat, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge and manipulation. Though he had been forced to retreat, he had not abandoned his ambitions. There was still a powerful pawn left to play: Luna...

His defeat at the Battle Of Canterlot had resulted in him losing a large majority of his army and all of his conquered territory, however, during the war, he had been working on a new plan, a plan that would destroy both his former mentor and his former best friend.

Nightwing summoned Lord Deceptor, the hooded figure who had previously served as his informant. The air crackled with tension as Deceptor entered, his presence almost palpable with dark energy.

“Lord Deceptor,” Nightwing said, his voice low and menacing, “the time has come to act on our final plan. I need you to corrupt Luna. Make her doubt her sister, make her see Celestia as the true enemy.”

Deceptor nodded, his eyes glinting with a sinister light. “It will be done, my Emperor. But you must understand, this requires finesse. Luna has a strong bond with Celestia, and breaking that bond will take more than mere words.”

“Use whatever means necessary,” Nightwing hissed. “Twist her thoughts. Show her the truth as you see it. She must believe Celestia is a tyrant, hoarding power for herself while leaving her sister in the shadows.”

Deceptor bowed slightly, the shadows around him deepening. “I will make her see the reality that you want her to perceive. I will plant the seeds of doubt.”

***

Meanwhile, Luna was in her bedroom, which had largely remained untouched from the war, trying to regain her composure after the tumultuous events. She couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her heart. Celestia had seemed different since Nightwing’s rise to power, more distant, more focused on the war than on her sister.

As she walked through the dimly lit corridors, lost in thought, a familiar voice echoed through her mind. It was Deceptor, cloaked in mystery. He had appeared silently at her side, a shadowy figure that seemed to materialize from the very darkness itself.

“Princess Luna,” he greeted, bowing slightly. “I’ve come to speak with you about your sister.”

Luna narrowed her eyes, instinctively wary of the stranger. “What do you want?”

Deceptor stepped closer, his voice smooth like silk. “I want to help you see the truth. Celestia has been neglecting you, hasn’t she? You’ve fought alongside her for so long, yet where is she now when you need her?”

“That’s not true!” Luna protested, feeling a flicker of anger rise within her. “Celestia is doing everything she can to protect Equestria.”

“Is she?” Deceptor pressed, his tone dripping with persuasion. “She is consumed by power and the throne. You are nothing more than a pawn in her game. You were the one who protected Equestria for a thousand years while she basked in the light.”

Luna hesitated, the seeds of doubt taking root in her heart. “I… I’ve always supported her. She needs me in this fight.”

“But at what cost?” Deceptor continued, a sly smile creeping across his lips. “Look around you. The war continues to rage, and yet Celestia seems more concerned with her own image than the well-being of her sister. She thinks you are merely a distraction from her true duties.”

“Celestia loves me,” Luna insisted, though her voice wavered.

“Does she? She hasn’t been the sister you remember. You’ve been left in the dark while she leads Equestria into chaos.” Deceptor's voice lowered, becoming almost conspiratorial. “What if you could take the throne for yourself? What if you could be the ruler Equestria needs?”

Luna felt a whirlwind of emotions: fear, anger, betrayal. “No! I would never betray her!”

“Wouldn’t you? You are the only one strong enough to face her. You’ve always lived in her shadow, but you could reclaim your power.” Deceptor stepped closer, whispering, “Imagine a world where you reign, where the moon shines as brightly as the sun.”

A dark allure began to cloud Luna’s thoughts. The images Deceptor painted felt seductive, as though they opened a door to a power she had long denied. “But… I don’t want to hurt her,” she stammered.

“Pain is temporary. Power is eternal,” Deceptor replied his voice now a siren’s call. “You can be more than what she allows you to be. You can embrace your true self.”

Luna felt a tumult of emotions surge within her, battling against her innate goodness. The dark whispers wrapped around her heart like chains, pulling her toward the abyss.

In that moment of uncertainty, Deceptor pressed on, “Join me, Luna. Together, we can overthrow Celestia and reshape Equestria in our image. Don’t let her control your destiny.”

The final words hit like a hammer. Luna’s mind raced as she considered the implications. Celestia’s negligence, the endless battles, her own feelings of inadequacy—it all began to weave a tapestry of betrayal.

With a chilling sense of resolve, Luna closed her eyes, letting the darkness seep into her heart. “What must I do?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Deceptor’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “Let go of your light. Embrace the night. Together, we will unleash the power that lies within you.”

***

As night descended upon Canterlot, Luna stood on the balcony, the moon glowing ominously in the sky. The whispers of power and revenge filled her mind, and as she gazed out at the stars, she felt herself slipping away from the light and into the shadows.

“Luna!” a voice called from behind her. It was Celestia, her expression filled with concern. “What are you doing?”

But Luna turned, her heart heavy with darkness. “I have found my path, dear sister.”

With a wave of dark energy, Luna transformed into Nightmare Moon, her once gentle features twisted by shadows and fury. Celestia’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what had happened.

“Luna, no!” Celestia cried, reaching out. But it was too late.

Nightmare Moon unleashed her power, sending a shockwave through the air as she embraced the darkness, her laughter echoing in the night. The battle between light and dark was far from over, but now, the darkness had claimed its queen.

The night sky crackled with an ominous energy as Celestia stood before the transformed figure of her sister, Nightmare Moon. The once-kind and serene Princess of the Night was gone, replaced by a towering alicorn wreathed in shadows, her teal eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. Her midnight blue armour reflected the light of the moon, casting long, menacing shadows across the battlements of Canterlot Castle.

***

"Luna, please," Celestia's voice trembled, pleading with the sister she loved. "You don't have to do this. We can still stop this madness together. I know you’re still in there."

But Nightmare Moon merely sneered, her voice cold and venomous. "Luna is gone, Celestia! You never cared for her, only for your precious sun. Now, I will bring eternal night, and the ponies of Equestria will finally give me the love and admiration I deserve!"

Celestia’s heart broke at those words, but she knew there was no turning back now. She raised her golden magiscaber, its blade humming with light. “If you will not stand down, then I have no choice.”

Nightmare Moon’s laughter echoed through the night. “You never had a choice, sister. You’re weak, and your reign will end tonight!”

Without another word, Nightmare Moon lunged, her own purple magiscaber igniting with a crackling, electric purple light. She moved with the ferocity of a storm, slashing and attacking relentlessly. Celestia was quick to meet her strikes, her golden blade clashing with Nightmare Moon’s, each blow ringing out like thunder.

The sky itself seemed to darken further as the two sisters battled, the power of the moon and the sun colliding in a dazzling display of magic and raw energy. Bolts of dark magic erupted from Nightmare Moon’s horn, each one aimed to destroy, but Celestia deflected them with her shield, countering with beams of golden light that illuminated the darkened sky.

“You can’t defeat me, Celestia!” Nightmare Moon roared, her wings flaring wide as she unleashed a wave of dark energy that knocked Celestia back, sending her skidding across the stone floor. “I am the night incarnate!”

Celestia struggled to her hooves, her breath laboured but her resolve unshaken. “You are my sister,” she said, her voice pained. “And I will not give up on you.”

Nightmare Moon snarled, flaring her magic in a devastating arc toward Celestia. The sheer force of it shook the ground beneath them, causing the castle’s towers to tremble. Celestia managed to deflect it at the last moment, but the strain was clear on her face.

“You always had the glory, the adoration!” Nightmare Moon screamed, her rage intensifying. “You basked in the daylight while I was forgotten, cast aside into the shadows!”

“I never wanted that!” Celestia cried, blocking another vicious strike. “I only wanted to rule with you, to protect Equestria together!”

“LIES!” Nightmare Moon’s horn glowed darkly as she summoned a vortex of shadow, swirling above them. The winds howled as the vortex grew, drawing in the light of the stars. “The night will last forever!”

Celestia felt the weight of the darkness closing in around her, the power of Nightmare Moon threatening to overwhelm her. But as she looked upon her twisted sister, a deep sorrow filled her heart. There was no reasoning with her now—Luna was lost to the darkness. And Celestia knew what she had to do...

***

Taking a deep breath, Celestia closed her eyes and reached out to the ancient power she had sworn never to use again: the Elements of Harmony.

The Elements, six powerful gemstones that had once united the sisters in defeating great evils, responded to Celestia’s call. They materialized before her in a brilliant display of light, each one representing a force of harmony—honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty, and magic.

Nightmare Moon’s eyes widened as she recognized the Elements, her voice now laced with panic. “No! You wouldn’t dare!”

Celestia’s heart ached as she looked upon her sister one last time, the weight of what she was about to do nearly unbearable. “I’m sorry, Luna,” she whispered, tears forming in her eyes. “I wish there was another way.”

With a flick of her horn, Celestia activated the Elements. They glowed with an ethereal light, rising into the air and surrounding her. The power of harmony surged through her body, and with a single burst of radiant magic, the Elements unleashed their full force upon Nightmare Moon.

“No!” Nightmare Moon screamed, her form consumed by the swirling rainbow of light. “You cannot defeat me! I will not be banished!”

But the magic was too powerful. Nightmare Moon’s body began to dissolve, and with one final scream of fury, she was enveloped entirely in the glowing vortex of the Elements.

Celestia’s eyes shimmered with tears as she watched the magic spiral upward, carrying her sister away. The vortex shot toward the sky, merging with the moon itself. As the magic faded, the image of a mare, forever trapped within the moon, appeared upon its surface.

Nightmare Moon... Luna, was banished.

The night fell silent.

Celestia stood alone on the battlements, staring up at the moon where her sister was imprisoned. The weight of her actions crushed her heart, and for the first time in over a millennium, she felt utterly alone.

The cost of harmony had never felt so high.

And so, with the battle over and the night restored, Celestia lowered her head in sorrow. Though Equestria was safe from the threat of eternal night, it had come at the greatest of personal sacrifices.

"Luna… I’m so sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible as tears fell down her cheeks. The golden glow of the sun began to rise over the horizon, signalling the dawn of a new day. But for Celestia, it was a day marked by loss and regret.

The battle was over.

But the scars would remain forever...

Epilogue

Years had passed with Equestria holding a stable peace, Equestria had rebuilt and Defender was made a prince by Princess Celestia, for his bravery in defending Equestria against the Imperial Empire, however, little did they know that Emperor Nightwing was not finished, not by a long shot.

Emperor Nightwing was in search of an apprentice, a pony that he could mould into his vision, to follow in his hoofsteps. He had been in his meditation tank aboard his Star Destroyer when he felt it. A large ripple in the aura. His red eyes snapping open, he smiled, as he gave the orders to change their direction towards the City of Cloudsdale...

***

Nightwing watched from a distance as a small, pegasus with a brilliant rainbow mane, celebrated. Nightwing could sense that the filly had a strong connection to the aura, a connection that he intended to exploit, however fate seemed to have other plans.

Prince Defender had been hunting for the last remnants of the Imperial Empire, when he had felt the same ripple that Nightwing had felt, and instantly rushed off to investigate.

His breath had caught in his throat as he laid his eyes on his former best friend, now a pegasus of darkness, corrupted by the dark side.

He noticed that he was staring at a cyan filly with a multicoloured mane, with a deep hunger in his eyes.

Just as Nightwing was about to approach the filly, Defender leapt in front of him and blocked his path. "YOU!" Nightwing snarled.

"It was foolish of you to come here, Nightwing. Princess Celestia has already been informed and she is already mobilising her most elite team of Royal Guards." Defender warned, hoping that Nightwing would fall for his bluff.

Nightwing sneered, his red, prosthetic eye tracking the filly as she partied, "Don't lie to me, Defender. You are here all alone, besides, we both know that the Royal Guard wouldn't stand a chance against me. Now leave before I cut you down." Nightwing warned menacingly as he ignited his red magiscaber.

Defender ignited his own purple magiscaber, the very same magiscaber that his master had once wielded, "I am afraid that I cannot allow you to corrupt, such an innocent mind."

Nightwing's gaze hardened, "Then die!"

***

As the stormy winds of Cloudsdale roared overhead, magiscabers clashed, filling the air with the crackling hum of raw energy. Nightwing's red blade clashed against Defender's purple, the sparks from their blows illuminating the sky. The battle was fierce, their movements swift and precise as they fought across the floating platforms of the city.

“You've grown strong, Defender," Nightwing taunted, his voice a mix of malice and amusement. "But you’re still no match for the dark side."

Defender narrowed his eyes, panting from the intensity of the fight but refusing to back down. "Strength isn’t everything, Nightwing. You’ve forgotten the power of loyalty, of friendship.”

With a sneer, Nightwing pressed forward, raining down heavy blows with ruthless precision. Defender parried each strike, but it was clear that Nightwing held the upper hoof in this duel. His dark energy pulsed with an unnatural intensity, giving him speed and power far beyond a normal pony.

But just as Nightwing raised his blade for another strike, he suddenly froze, his magiscaber humming menacingly in the air. His crimson eyes widened in surprise, a sharp gasp escaping him.

Defender, confused, kept his stance but didn’t strike. Instead, he cautiously asked, “What is it?”

Nightwing didn’t respond. His attention had shifted, his gaze distant. He had felt something—a disturbance, something even stronger than what had drawn him to Cloudsdale. It wasn’t just another ripple in the aura. It was a tidal wave, calling him with such force that it drowned out everything else.

Ignoring Defender entirely, Nightwing deactivated his magiscaber and turned, his cloak billowing as he shot into the sky. "I have no time for this," he muttered, his voice laced with urgency.

“Nightwing!” Defender called after him, but the former apprentice of Celestia didn’t turn back. His speed increased as he flew toward the horizon, his mind consumed by this new presence in the aura. Something far more powerful awaited him. Something… or somepony.

***

The icy winds of the Frozen North bit at Nightwing as he descended from the sky, the stark landscape beneath him a barren wasteland of snow and rock. The disturbance had led him here, to this desolate place where even the Empire’s forces dared not venture. But Nightwing was undeterred. He could feel it, growing stronger, calling to him from beneath the frozen ground.

His wings flared as he landed near a jagged cave mouth, hidden within the ice cliffs. Darkness swirled inside, but the aura radiating from within was unmistakable.

Without hesitation, Nightwing stepped inside, his breath visible in the cold air. The deeper he went, the stronger the aura became. It pulsed in rhythm with his own dark power, a connection forming that was impossible to ignore.

At last, he reached the heart of the cave, where the icy floor gave way to a small, hidden chamber. His eyes narrowed as he spotted the source of the disturbance: a tiny, orange pegasus foal, fast asleep on top of a stone pedestal.

She had a spiky purple mane and tail, and though she was small and vulnerable, Nightwing could feel the incredible power that radiated from her. "The aura is strong with this one," he muttered, his sinister smile growing.

He stepped closer, his breath catching in his throat as he observed the foal. She was innocent, unaware of the power she held within her. But in the right hooves, she could become something far greater. Far more dangerous.

Kneeling beside the sleeping foal, Nightwing extended a hoof, hovering just above her. His mind raced with possibilities. Could this be the apprentice he had been searching for? The one who could carry on his legacy and help him rebuild the Empire?

A wicked smile curled across his lips as he made his decision. Gently, he lifted the foal, cradling her in his forelegs. "Such potential..." he whispered, his voice soft but filled with dark intent. "You will become powerful, far beyond your wildest dreams."

As the cave echoed with the howling wind from outside, Nightwing turned and left, carrying the foal with him. The future had just changed. His empire would rise again, and this time, he would have the perfect apprentice by his side.

The foal, still fast asleep, was none the wiser.

The small orange pegasus with the spiky purple mane would one day awaken to a destiny far different than what had been meant for her, and under Nightwing’s tutelage, she would rise to greatness with the dark side at her hooves.

"With my new apprentice, the empire will strike back..."