Chaos + Night Sounds Just Right

by Timey-Wimey

Rating: everyone
Tags: Alternate Universe, Romance, Slice of Life
Length: 9287

A broken wing leads to Princess Luna meeting a certain Draconequus she never wanted to see again, but what happens when she starts to fall for said Draconequus?

When Princess Luna breaks her wing in the Everfree Forest, she is forced to take shelter with an escaped Discord. And just like all those other tales of love and compassion, eventually they fall in love with each other. But there are those who never truly forgave Discord.

This is the story of how they got through the hate, the dark and the lingering shadow in Luna's mind.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-14 03:28:41 UTC

Finding Discord

Princess Celestia sat on her balcony, looking over the city of Canterlot. Everything was quiet, her sister's starry night sky and silvery moon casting all of Equestria in a peaceful shadow. It all seemed peaceful, gentle and completely silent. It was one of those nights where it seemed nothing would go wrong, but the troubled face of the Equestrian Monarch could only foretell some sort of issue, conflict or problem that would reveal itself in time. For Celestia, the rumor that had touched her ears was something that threw her off entirely, affecting even her daily routine. The evidence was overpowering, pulling fiction into the world of facts, but this was one fact she didn't want to accept. Her pink gaze turned to the statue garden and a soft sigh escaped her.

Victory.

Friendship.

Spartans.

The statues were ancient, the oldest from thousands of years ago. But the oldest statue wasn't in the garden, not anymore. The statue of Discord had vanished, seemingly into thin air.

Realization

"No!"

Princess Luna glared at Discord, eyes blazing. "I told you before you were imprisoned that I wouldn't, a few thousand years won't change that!" She snapped, disbelief and fury coursing through her long limbs. The glare she gave the Draconequus was so fierce she was surprised he didn't go up in flames.

"Luna my dear I'll make you see, that you belong with me." He sang, flying around the room with a mischievous smile. His eagle claw and lion paw extended to their full length as he sang opera style, "Chaos + Night sounds just right!" And flew just out of Luna's way as she leaped at him, crashing into one of the walls.

Luna bared her teeth. "Shut up!" She yelled, "I never have dated you and I never will! Just tell me how to get out of the forest!" Desperation was making her irritable, especially with Discord asking for a date. This was just too much.

Discord gave a mocking laugh. "What about that time when you begged me to come over? You seem to be forgetting the kiss? Tsk tsk." He waved his paw in her face and then flew off cackling as she charged after him.

"I fell and you know it! It's not my fault we got stuck together for a school project!" She refused to take this any longer. She leaped and bit down on his lizard tail. He snapped his claws and suddenly she was being carried by a rainbow. "Discord!" She yelled, trying to leap off. She let out a cry as her hooves were covered in sticky rainbow goo and was flipped upside down.

Discord nearly crashed into a tree, he was laughing so hard. "Say you'll go on a date with me and I'll fix it!" He crooned, amusement clear in every line of his body. He flew around the trapped princess, listening to her curse him.

"No!" She shouted. She let out a yell when she felt her hooves slipping. The goo was coming off. Shuddering, she swallowed her pride and looked at him. He was laughing. "Fine! I'll go on a date with you!" Her sentence ended in a screech as she fell. She waved her hooves, fear coursing through her and she hit a cloud with a small 'oof!'

Discord fell onto the cloud, a laughing mess. Luna punched his arm. "Shut up before I kill you." She growled, but when Discord snorted, she started laughing. Tears ran down her face and the two had to hold their stomachs and try to keep from falling off the cloud.

Luna sat up, wiping tears from her eyes. She smiled, then caught herself and turned away, dark blue cheeks rapidly turning pink. She turned away from Discord. "Thanks." She muttered, trying to sound dignified.

Discord wasn't fooled. He smirked and flew circles around her, eyes full of mischief. "You like me? Oh Luna, I'm flattered!" He said dramatically, falling down with his paw on his head. He tapped his chest with one claw and his voice amplified so that everyone could here. "Princess Luna is in love with Discord!" He boomed.

Everypony looked up at the clouds. With a snap of his claws, Discord made the surrounding clouds look like him and Luna in a heart kissing.

Discord flew away cackling as Luna hopped from cloud to cloud, sometimes finding herself up to her knees in cotton candy. "Discord!" She howled, cursing her broken wing and leaping after him. But she couldn't help but wonder; Why did I blush? Then horror froze her in her tracks.

Do I actually like Discord?

Love

Discord was examining himself in the mirror. His mane was combed nicely and his beard was nice and straight. He straightened his bowtie and smiled. "Gorgeous." He struck a pose, flexing the muscle on his lion arm and then walked out the door, ready to meet Luna.

What he saw made his jaw drop.

Luna had used flowered vines to do her mane. Silky roses dotted a fine white dress that was slightly see through. Her wings were wrapped with ivy , her bad one ruining the effect with it's being bent out of shape. Pale pink was smeared under her eyes, ending in a small swirl. She smiled at him, dark blue eyes guarded. "I'm ready."

Discord extended his talon to touch the dress and Luna slapped his hand away with a hoof. "I spent hours making this dress out of silk and spiderwebs, so don't touch it!" She snapped, but amusement brimmed in her dark blue eyes.

Discord rubbed his talon and snorted, but couldn't help but chuckle. "My dear, do you hear? You look lovely my dear." He swooned, lifting her hoof with his paw and kissing it lightly. He caught her eyes flash with joy for a fraction of a second and her cheeks blush pink, but it was gone in a heartbeat.

Luna pulled her hoof back and looked at him. "So where are we going?" She asked. She turned around and while her back was too him, he glimpsed her tail, which was braided with ivy and bluebells. She started walking in one direction, but winced when a twinge of pain came from her wing.

Discord tapped his foot. "You should've kept the bandages on." He snorted. "I'll take you there. Hold on!" He gripped her lightly and took off, ignoring her protesting growls. He made sure not to tear her dress as they came upon the destination. "Hang on to your hat!" He said and dropped her.

Luna fell with a shriek. "Discord!" She cried, then suddenly, she was flying. Butterflies. Hundreds of them. They were holding her and they flew her on their small bodies. Discord landed next to her, eyes brimming with amusement. She realized her jaw was gaping and shut it with a snap, eyes twinkling with embarrassment.

Discord chuckled when he saw the wonder of the Alicorn. She stared around, eyes wide and jaw agape. She seemed to realize her mouth was open and closed it, blushing a deep pink. Discord smiled, feeling his heart swell. "This is Butterfly Clearing, a small hidden place I found a few days before you arrived. I thought it'd be perfect." He explained.

Luna looked at him. "It's lovely." She murmured, still entranced by the beauty of the clearing. The stars sparkled above her head and the moon bathed the butterflies silver. "Discord... Why haven't you told me how to get out of the forest yet?" She asked turning to him and leaning forwards. "Because before I go, I need to do something."

Discord frowned. "You won't be able to go until your wing is healed and since you keep taking the bandages off, you won't be out for at least 2 months. I don't have the strength to take you back to Canterlot, even with magic," He sighed and closed his eyes as he went on, "I suppose you don't want to be around me, I'll take you back to my house now." He sighed again, then his eyes flew open in shock as he felt Luna's lips meet his.

Luna didn't think. When she saw him, start to move, she kissed him. She felt his muscles tense, then relax. She could almost hear the words in the trees, the leaves whispering in the breeze and the unspoken words passing through the wingbeats below her. She felt fearless as she pulled away and spoke the silent words,

"I love you."

Revealing

A Draconequus and an Alicorn were walking side by side. The Alicorn had white bandages wrapped around one wing and the Draconequus was blindfolded. It had been 3 weeks since their date and they both knew that when the time came, trouble could only follow.

Luna prodded Discord with a hoof. "You sure are quiet today." She giggled. Discord snorted and Luna kissed him on the cheek, giggling when he gave a dramatic freeze and fell over. "Oh my Celestia!" He cried dramtically, waving his arms in the air.

Discord felt a hoof on his shoulder and he stood up. Luna's tail was touching his claw and he followed her blindly as she led him through... wherever. "Where are you taking me?" He asked, reaching for the blindfold. He felt a hoof slap him and he growled, crossing his arms.

Luna couldn't help but giggle. "Grump." She teased. Discord chuckled. She stopped and felt Discord bump into her. She giggled again. "Take it off." She encouraged.

Discord removed the blindfold and gasped, his eyes alight with pleasure. Before him stood Luna, her horn glowing. He watched in amazement as she took the light of the moon and stars, swirling down and hitting the ground. The trees were bathed silver as she reared up, eyes glowing with white light. The lights swirled and then there it was in a flash of blinding light. It was a statue, made from moonlight and starlight, of Discord and Luna. Discord let out a cry of surprise.

Luna smiled at her boyfriend's dumbfounded expression. "It took me days to get it right, that's why there have been all those flashes of light over here. The spell only lasts for a bit, then it," The statue wavered, as if underwater, then went out with a pop, a heart shaped cloud of light floating up and lighting up the previously dark stars and moon, "does that." She finished.

Discord walked over to her and kissed her, warmth spreading through him. "I love you." He whispered, eyes full of starlight. Luna stood on the tips of her hooves, her eyes reflecting his. "I love you too."

"What!?"

An outraged cry came from the trees. Luna whipped around, eyes wide as she recognized the voice. Discord turned around more slowly and the horror-struck couple stared, eyes wide, as Princess Celestia strode out, her normally gentle eyes full of out rage and her wings flared threateningly.

~~~

Back at the palace, Princess Celestia was pacing, her hair dull and her mane lacking its normal flow and glow. She looked out the window, eyes dark with worry and stress. She had been guarding the day and night for the past 3 weeks.

"I know I did it for 1000 years, but with Luna back I got used to just the day. What to do, what to do..." She muttered and resumed pacing, fighting back the tears born of fear for her precious sister. She shook her swan-white head, wishing she knew where her sister was. She could be lying dead in the forest, she could've been kidnapped by Discord...

Discord!

Celestia's eyes blazed and she raced out the door, flaring her wings and taking off. Her heart was racing and adrenaline course through her, fuelled by fear and rage. If Discord has done something to Luna, I'll destroy him. She thought, flapping harder and speeding through Ponyville, not stopping.

~~~

The Princess's hooves hit the ground. Her horn blazed with light and she charged forwards. The sound of voices and laughter filled the air around her. Suddenly, the light from the moon and stars went out, followed by a cry of surprise. Luna! It didn't sound like Luna, but she clung to the hope that her sister was safe.

Celestia slowed down as the flash came from the trees ahead. She peered through and saw the statue of Luna and Discord. The statue went out with a pop and the light heart flew away, bringing light back to the forest. She dimmed her horn and was about to leap out, when her hooves froze to the ground in absolute horror.

She watched, dumbfounded, as Luna and Discord kissed. She watched for any signs of a spell, but there was none. Luna's eyes were full of love, the expression reflected in Discord's eyes. "I love you." Came the rough whisper of the Draconequus. Princess Celestia felt rage course through her when the reply came, "I love you too."

"What!?" The outraged shout escaped from Princess Celestia as her mind whirled, rage and disbelief fighting a war inside her head.

Celestia saw Luna whip around and Discord follow more slowly as she stepped out, eyes blazing with rage. They were both staring at her in wide-eyed horror. Luna opened her mouth, but Celestia beat her to it.

"Luna how could you do this to me!?"

Screams

Celestia stepped forwards, flaring her wings. There was no trace of the gentle princess, there was only an enraged Alicorn. She loomed over the terrified Luna. "Answer!" Her voice was amplified, like the way she would speak when she was younger. She stamped her hoof. "Luna!" She yelled.

Luna cowered down. She closed her eyes and ducked her head, then stood tall with her eyes blazing. "I'm in love sister dear. There's no law against love, no matter how reckless. I love Discord and nothing you say will change that!" She hollered, one hoof hit her sister in the chest and she kept it there. "I'm allowed to have love, just because you don't want love doesn't mean I'm the same!" She spat.

Discord stared, horror-struck at the 2 sisters. Discord ran over to help, eyes wide. "Celestia, I love your sister. I mean her no harm. I swear by all you hod dear to you, I wouldn't hurt a hair on her." He vowed, gently removing Luna's hoof from Celestia's chest. He held her hoof and his gaze was full of love as he spoke, "I love you Luna. Nothing could make me leave you."

Celestia noticed Luna's wing, how it was bandaged to her side. She slammed Discord aside with a hoof as he held her sister's hoof and he skidded away with cry. She turned on him, rearing up intimidatingly. "Then explain why her wing is broken? Discord, you are the worst option for a boyfriend my sister could've ever picked! Stay away from her you useless-" She broke off when she felt something slam into her side and she it the ground on her back. Celestia stared in horror as Luna pinned her, eyes full of rage and pain.

"I fell down a hill! Discord is the only reason I'm still alive, can't you see? You're being an idiot Celestia!" She cried. The Night Princess felt tears run down her face. "Just leave him be." She pleaded.

Discord looked at the 2. He stood up, eyes wide. "Luna..." He whispered, reaching forwards. Tears streamed down his face as he felt his heart wrenching. "Luna no..."

Celestia let out a growl. She lifted her sister off and put her on the ground away from her. "I love you sister, but this is for your own good." She turned on Discord, horn flashing. "Time to end this." She stood tall and for a moment her eyes flashed with unbelievable pain, then she fired a blast of magic at the Draconequus. "NO!" The heart wrenching cry came from Luna. She jumped in front of Discord and took the blast herself, dropping down with shrieks of pain.

Luna leaped forwards, letting out a cry with all the pain she felt in it, "NO!" Her hooves hit Discord and she felt him go flying and felt the blast hit her. Pain seized her muscles and joints, spreading through her body. It burnt like fire and froze like ice. She felt herself hit the ground and let out shrieks of pain. Her eyes watered and tears soaked the grass beneath her.

Discord ran over to her. "What have you done!?" He shrieked at Celestia. He stroked Luna's mane. "Luna! Hold on, please! I'm here my love, please don't die." He sobbed, pressing his head into her mane. "I love you."

Celestia took a step back. "She will turn to stone, slowly. It is the most painful spell ever created." She whispered in horror, realizing what she had done. "There's only one cure, but it's hidden in the Froggy Bottom Bog. Nopony has ever found it." She explained. She tried to go over but stopped in shock when Discord met her.

Discord rose up and faced Celestia. "Get out of here you monster!" He yelled. His rage was born of fear and pain. "She might die now, all because of you!" He screeched, pushing her back. Luna let out a cry and he rushed over to her side. Through the screaming and tears, she formed words. "My leg!" She wailed, thrashing three of them in agony. One back leg was tipped with grey that slowly spread, like a snail trailing its slime. The Draconequus whipped around and faced Celestia. "Don't just stand there like an idiot, go find the cure! Judging by the pace of the stone, she has a day before she's stone. GO!" He screeched at her.

Celestia, taken by surprise, leaped back. She flapped her wings and flew off, heart racing. "What have I done? I could've killed my sister, what an idiot I am!" She cursed herself, tears that were flung back clung to her tail and she raced on. "I must save her, Luna is all I have left." She shot off as fast as she could, feeling her blood burn with adrenaline. Her wings were seizing up from the lactic acids, but she ignored it and raced on, terror lending her strength.

~~~

Back in the forest, Discord was stroking the screaming Luna, who's back hoof was still slowly turning to stone. She couldn't even open her eyes now, she was in too much pain. She screamed again as the spell caused her more pain. Discord watched his tears splash onto her dark blue coat and he could barely speak in his fear. But he managed to choke out a few words, but they meant nothing to him if they couldn't soothe Luna's pain.

"I love you Luna. Please don't leave me, I need you. Without you, I have no reason to live."

Was all he could manage to whisper in her ear, as tears threatened to flood down his face.

Failure

Discord sat hunched over the writhing Luna, her screams ringing through the quiet forest. "She won't make it..." He whispered, half to himself. The sobbing Princess at his feet let out another shriek and a vein of rock slowly spread from her already half-stone hind leg. He looked at the stars. "Celestia, please hurry." He begged, for for Luna then for himself.

Luna let out a screech. The pain was unbearable, she wanted it to stop. She let out a low wail, which made Discord go rigid beside her. She felt a light touch of fur on her shoulder, but she couldn't open her eyes to see the expression of pain, sorrow and misery in Discord's eyes.

~~~

Celestia charged through the mud. It sucked at her hooves and splayed all over her hair, but she kept running. Tears were drying and spiking her cheek hair as she ran, her multi-colored mane half-flowing and half-plastered to her shoulders with mud. A fearsome roar sounded behind her and she ran harder, stumbling over branches and slipping on leaves. She fought vainly to open her wings, but they were stuck to her sides with dry mud. She let out a cry as a branch caught her hoof and she fell into the mud. She looked up and saw the Hydra looming over her. One clawed hand raised and 4 sets of teeth flashed in the light. She felt claws tear through her flank and blood spill over her white fur. She let out a shriek, then another as one head darted towards her, fangs gleaming and eyes snapping with triumph.

~~~

Luna's shrieks had subsided to whimpers and the occasional wail of agony. Her legs twitched and her back leg was half-covered in stone and veins are slowly spreading and combining to make grey streaks. She let out a cry as a vein touched another, combining the 2. She writhed and twisted, her soft whimpers becoming weaker.

Discord shushed her, his talon was in a tight fist. "Hurry up Celestia you useless rock." He hissed under his breath. He held Luna's hoof in his paw. "Luna my love, I'm here and I'm not leaving. Please return the favor" He begged, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from his golden eyes and failing miserably.

~~~

Celestia blasted magic, but it failed. She was too weak. The Hydra bore down on her and teeth snapped shut beside her muddy mane. She struggled and felt her wings break free from the dry gunk. She flashed up and faced the 4 headed beast, eyes blazing and teeth bared. "Get out of my way! I'm trying to save your princess, my sister!" She hollered into one of the faces.

The Hydra let out a squeal and ran, it's huge tail and slamming into Celestia. She careened into a tree with a scream and her head connected with the thick trunk. Her form fell limply and hit a branch, her form draped across it, unconscious.

~~~

Luna's leg was almost completely covered now. She was definitely growing weaker, her thrashes more feeble and her whimpers barely audible. She gave one final cry, then slumped into unconsciousness, unbeknownst to her mate stroking her mane and shoulder, holding his tears and never leaving his side.

"I swear by all that is good in this world, I'll be brave for you Luna." He whispered softly, letting a few tears leak from his eyes.

Unknown to him, the only chance at life Luna had was lying unconscious in a tree, only 20 hours left as the mental clock ticked on.

Death

Celestia's eyes cracked open, still blurry with with tears and sleep. Her head was thumping with pain and he groaned, stood up, then let out a screech as she fell from the branch. Her wings flared and she landed softly in the mud. She rubbed her head with a hoof and and steadied herself, still dizzy. She looked at the sky, expecting the light of the day. She stared in horror at the sinking sun, motionless without her magic.

"No!" Her horn blazed with light and she ran through the mud, ignoring the stinging pain in her legs. She knew that she had been there for a while, but she had no idea how long. Her heart was racing as she searched desperately, trying to find the cure.

~~~

Discord looked the sky, then back at Luna. She was almost completely stone now, only her head and neck was left. It had been 23 hours now and Celestia had not yet returned. Discord had cried himself dry, he was terribly hungry and thirsty but he would not leave Luna's side.

Luna was unconscious now. She twitched feebly when a vein of stone poked out from her grey body to the dark blue hair. He brushed her lightly, resting his paw on her flowing mane. Luna let out a whimper, then a soft whisper, "Discord...", then her eyes snapped open and she screeched.

Discord felt himself sobbing, but there were no tears. He just listened to the shrieks, each one sending a blast of pain through his chest. He curled up next to his girlfriend.

"Stay with me."

~~~

The ivory Alicorn had her horn in the water, the light flashing from beneath the surface and it melted through anything that wasn't the cure. Celestia felt her horn hit something under the water. She splashed under and came out with a bright red berry in the shape of a star. "I found it!" She bit down on the stem and flew up, her wings pumping as hard as they could.

She opened her eyes and saw that the bog was behind her and she was rapidly drawing close to the forest. She broke the tree barrier and swerved through the trees until she heard the screeching. She dropped down and ran, her hooves barely touching the ground as she raced forwards.

~~~

The sun remained motionless in the sky, but Discord could tell the time as the mental clock ticked. "One minute left." He sighed, looking at Luna. Only her mouth was left uncovered by stone. Soon, she wouldn't be able to breathe. Discord heard something crashing through the trees, then Celestia burst out.

Celestia ran forwards, heart racing. There was only a minute left. "I got it!" She cried. She was about to dive down, but her back leg gave out under her and she collapsed with a cry. The berry rolled from her mouth and her eyes closed as she slipped into unconsciousness, horror dulled with pain.

Discord scooped the berry up in his talon and thrust it into Luna's mouth. He opened and closed her jaws for her and tipped her head back for her to swallow it. His eyes widened and his heart raced and his mind whirled. "Luna!" He cried.

The stone shrank, revealing dark blue eyes, a dark blue coat, one wing plastered to her side and a flowing tail. Her legs returned to their dark blue state and her shoes lost their grey coating. She looked at Discord and a smile spread across her face. "Discord. You saved me." She murmured, then wrapped her forelegs around him.

Discord shook his head. "Your sister saved you." He murmured. He helped her up and then they rushed over to Celestia, who had open her green eyes and was struggling to sit up. "It worked Celestia! Luna's saved! He cried.

Celestia smiled, but she wasn't looking at Discord. She was looking passed him. "Mother, father? Have you come for me? I'm ready." She murmured. She reached out a hoof and a ghostly pale hoof touched it, along with a pale spirit of her father.

Discord's eyes went wide. "No, Celestia don't do this! Not now!" He screeched. For the first time, he noticed the deep gashes on her flank, still oozing blood. Luna raced by him and he heard a cry of terror.

Luna flung herself at her sister, tears streaming down her face. "Celestia please! Don't die! I'm safe now, everything's alright, please don't die!" She wailed, pressing her face into her sister's neck. "Don't do this to me." She whispered, her eyes deep pools of misery. She felt a hoof touch her head and she looked into her sister's eyes.

"Luna my sister, this was always meant to happen. From the day we were born. I am thousands of years old, at least a hundred years older than you. I must go." She whispered. Her limbs were shaking now and she swayed on her hooves, before collapsing. "I was told, long ago, that an old enemy would arise and I would die trying to stop it. I thought that it meant Nightmare Moon, but now I realize it's you and Discord falling in love. You can't stop destiny my dear sister. Don't blame yourself, don't blame Discord, be happy, be strong. Have fun." She whispered. Her voice was fading and her heart was barely beating when she whispered her final words, "I... Love... You..." She rasped, before her eyes glazed over and she lay motionless.

Discord's pupils shrank in horror. He rushed over to the Princess of the Day, but her body was rapidly losing its heat. Luna threw her head back and wailed into the sky.

~~~

The sun was frozen for hours as Luna mourned. Then, she lifted her head, eyes dark with pain and tears still streaming down her face. She stood tall and her horn blazed with light. The moon lowered and the sun came up in the sky. Luna looked at the bright disc in the sky that her sister used to lift, before she mustered the strength to make a vow to her sister's spirit,

"I will always remember you and love you and I swear, I will bring the day and the night to Equestria, just as you did when you lost me." Luna whispered. There was only one thing that changed this time, that made this so much harder to handle than her being gone for a thousand years.

Princess Celestia was never coming back.

Discovery

Discord had Princess Celestia's body in his grip, making sure not to rip her fur with his claws. Luna was limping heavily below him, head down and flowing tail and mane dragging in the dust. They broke the cover of the forest and continued to Ponyville.

A streak of rainbow flashed passed. Luna watched as the form went by and stopped, coming back and flashing down, hitting the ground on cyan hooves.

Rainbow Dash stopped in horror when she saw Discord. She flashed down, then noticed Princess Celestia. "Princess! What did you do to her?" She cried, then advanced on Discord with a snarl. Something tugged on her tail and she was pulled back.

Luna faced her, mouth full of rainbow. "He did nothing. I'll explain when we get to Ponyville and announce her death." She sighed heavily, then her legs gave out beneath her from exhaustion. She wasn't used to this amount of exhaustion or pain, not to mention raising the sun. She was positively worn out. She felt light hooves lift her top half and she flapped one wing, trying to stay aloft.

Rainbow struggled to lift the weak Princess, now the sole ruler. She saw her bandaged wing and looked back at Discord. "What happened to your wing? Why is Discord helping us?" She asked. Her eyes flew wide with disbelief and she nearly dropped the Night Princess as she answered,

Luna looked up at the blue pegasus. "I fell down a hill and broke it. Discord is my boyfriend." She answered simply, flapping her wing harder to keep from hitting the ground. The slow trek continued before they hit a bridge.

The pegasus holding her adjusted her grip and Luna looked at the ponies gathering around them, confusion lighting their gazes.

Twilight Sparkle broke through the crowd. "Princess Celestia!" She cried. She nuzzled her mentor, fear ringing in every heartbeat. "Wake up!" She begged, tears in her violet eyes. She glared at the Draconequus. "What did you do?" She yelled.

Discord looked at the unicorn and a fierce glare answered her. He sighed, sorrow took over his facial features as the glare faded from his face. "You'll see." He felt a hoof hit his face and nearly dropped the dead Princess. He adjusted his grip and as Twilight aimed another blow, Luna dragged her back by the dark purple and pink tail.

"He didn't kill her." She snapped.

"She's dead...?" Twilight let out a wail and Luna flinched, unable to look at the heart-broken unicorn.

Discord lowered the dead Princess and a low wail echoed from the mouth of everypony. He stood over her body and felt venomous stares hit him. He looked up and Bon Bon faced him. "What have you done to our Princess!?" She shrieked.

Accusations were thrown at him and he shrank back. Rage, borne of pain flooded him and he reared up, eyes blazing. "I didn't kill her!" He bellowed, his voice amplified as he swept his furious gaze over the crowd.. Shocked silence met his words. His breath came in gasps and he sat back down, pain and rage blazing in his eyes and his fur bristling. Bon Bon backed down, eyes full of fear and guilt.

Luna looked at her subjects, tears streaming down her face. She stepped forwards, straightening and bellowed in the traditional royal voice, "Princess Celestia is dead. She died as brave as she lived and we will mourn her. Don't ask how, I will not share any details. As the sister of your Princess, it is my duty to raise the sun and moon from now on."

A few cheers came from the crowd, but that was it. Luna bowed her head. "Celestia was a great ruler, protecting all of Questria during my imprisonment. If I can be half the ruler she was, I hope to make Equestria the most well defended place in the universe." She vowed, tears falling to the ground by her hooves. She clopped over to her dead sister and buried her nose in her neck hair. "I love you dear sister. Your rule will live on and I vow to defend Equestria as you did. I will always remember you, I promise that your memory will live on forever, even when I am gone." She whispered, then sat down and listened as more ponies payed their respects.

~~~

Discord came last. He sat down next to her body and stifled a wail of pain. "I'm sorry. For everything. For causing chaos and making misery and nearly destroying Equestria. I'm sorry Celestia. Forgive me." He allowed a few tears to hit her beautiful fur, then stood up and sat beside Luna. The couple watched as she was lifted into her coffin. They buried her there, in the centre of the town. Soon everypony left and Luna and Discord were left, staring at the spot where she was buried. Finally, the words Luna had been meaning to say came out in a heartbreaking wail,

"She's gone!"

Beginning

3 weeks.

Luna opened her eyes and stretched, her dark blue wings flared for a moment before snapping back to her sides. Her mouth gaped in an enormous yawn and she smacked her lips, rubbing her eyes with her hooves.

3 weeks had passed since her sister's death and she felt slightly better. Her wing had healed according to Discord, but he had insisted she go and visit Nurse Redheart. She looked out at the dark sky and trotted over to the doors, opening them with her magic.

Luna stood at the balcony and closed her eyes in concentration. She arched her back, unfurled her wings and leaped, flapping up slowly with her horn blazing. The sun rose with her and she grit her teeth. She stretched out her forelegs and then nearly fell, gasping. The sun shone bright in the sky and she smiled, then flew down to the balcony.

Discord greeted her. He held her hoof in his paw and twirled her. "Great job Luna." He complimented, feeling the warmth of the sun's rays on his fur. He pulled her towards the balcony and then flew into the air. "Come on, you said we'd go see Nurse Redheart today!" He called.

Luna snorted. "YOU said we'd go." She corrected, flying after him. He chuckled and she stuck her tongue out at him before flashing passed him, leaving him cartwheeling in the air. "Hey!" He yelled and zoomed forwards.

Luna streaked away and Discord crashed into a tree. He flapped out and zoomed after her. His talon was about to give her a playful swipe, when a scream of terror split the air. Discord looked down and saw the shape of a pony clinging to the edge of the river, hind legs splashing as another cry split the air. "Luna!" He called.

Luna looked down and saw the shape slip into the river, legs flailing. "Help! I can't swim!" It screamed. Luna flashed forwards. The pony went under and Luna followed, her form slipped easily into the water and her deep blue eyes opened as beat her wings in the water, following the thrashing shape. She avoided rocks as best as she could, but still bumped into some. The pony however was being thrown this way and that, unable to stop itself from slamming into the rocks. Blood started staining the water red, making it hard to see.

Luna reached out and felt her hoof hit something soft. Her eyes detected the shape of a pony. She immediately grabbed on, wrapping her foreleg around the pony and dragging them up. She looked up and saw a blurry shape, which she recognized as Discord hovering above. She grabbed onto the half-drowned pony with both hooves and it let out a screech of pain. She lifted it up, but through the water in her eyes she could just make out the color of the pony's pelt, which had a hint of pink but some other color, but with the blur she couldn't make it out.

Discord looked over and saw Lyra rushing over to him She held a towel in her in golden magical aura and he took it, wrapping the young pony in it.

Luna conjured a levitation spell and lifted it. She flapped into the air and took off for the hospital. Water dripped into her eyes from her head and she had to keep shaking it to stay aloft and not fall. The hospital came into sight and she shook her head one last time before landing and galloping in, Discord and the unknown pony behind her.

Nurse Redheart greeted her. "Screw Loose!" Yelled the white mare. A blue pony with a white mane came into view, took the floating shape and trotted away. Luna glimpsed a wing, the pony they had saved was a pegasus. They were already far away, so she couldn't make out the color, even though her vision was clear as crystal.

Luna extended one wing. "I was wondering if you could check my wing for damage? I broke it 2 months ago and Discord insists I have it checked." She asked. Nurse Redheart bowed. "Of course your majesty. Please follow me." The white mare trotted away from where the mysterious pegasus and Screw Loose had gone. She opened a door with a hoof and gestured for Luna to enter.

Luna looked at the machine and walked up to it. "Just lay your wing across it." Redheart instructed. Luna nodded and lay her wing across the machine.

Flash!

She blinked as the flash came from the X-Ray machine. A couple more flashes and it was done. Luna looked over at the nurse, who nodded and she stood up.

Nurse Redheart walked over to Luna. "There's no damage, you'll be just fine." She said with a smile. "Have a great day your highness!" Luna smiled and trotted out, over to Discord. "She said I'm fine. I told you." She nudged him playfully. Discord snorted, but a good-natured gleam was glowing in his eyes.

BOOM!

A streak of rainbow flashed in and Rainbow Dash skidded to a halt in front of Doctor Stable. "Where is she!?" She yelled. Doctor Stable cocked his head to the side. "Who?" Rainbow Dash thrust her face into the doctor's who backed up. "My friend!" She yelled, eyes blazing. Doctor Stable perked up. "She fell in the river and was blasted against some rocks. She's right this way." Rainbow Dash flashed passed and a zigzag rainbow blazed in the hall until she entered the room.

Luna followed. "Who is it?" She called, nopony answered her. Luna trotted into the room and her legs wobbled.

Discord flew in after her, eyes wide with horror. "Not her... Why her?" His eyes were almost pleading.

"Oh Celestia, not her!" Luna cried, running over to the pale pegasus. "Why did it have to be you?" She whispered, her voice barely audible over Rainbow Dash's sobbing.

Rainbow leaned over the butter-yellow shape, tears flooding down her face. "Come on, don't do this to me. Don't you dare die on me." She sobbed.

Fluttershy coughed. "Rainbow... Don't worry they'll fix me..." She croaked. Her wing was bent, blood was leaking from gashes along her form and one of her forelegs was twisted at an awkward angle. She coughed again and bloody water splashed out. Nurse Tenderheart rushed over as the yellow pegasus slumped, unconscious. She was alive, but only way they could tell was by the rise and fall of her chest and the blood bubbling at her nose. Nurse Tenderheart looked the ponies and Draconeqqus. "Get out!" She snapped. She shooed them out.

Luna looked back. Her eyes flashed white and she kicked the door, bursting in on the Nurse and Fluttershy. She rose up , eyes narrowed in a furious glare. Her voice raised and she boomed out, "Thou shall show respect to thi Princess!"

Discord grabbed her and pulled her back out. "You're stressed and tired Luna, get back to the castle." He said gently.

Luna's eyes returned to their deep blue and she shook her head. "Oh Celestia, forgive me!" She leaned back and apologized to the terrified nurse, who nodded quickly.

Discord looked at Luna with concern. He recognized the threatening hint in her voice and he knew that if it was starting to return to his girlfriend, then that meant only one thing.

Nightmare Moon wasn't far away.

Horror

A few days had gone by since Fluttershy had been hospitalized.

Luna was back in the hospital, pacing nervously. The news had spread quick and she had overheard her guards talking about it. She had been denied entry to the room where the young filly lay and she was furious about it, but held her tongue. She had left Discord in charge of the palace as Shining Armor and Princess Cadance were away because the younger Princess was pregnant.

Luna had no idea who the filly was. She knew that there had been a terrible accident and she had followed the shapes of Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. The form was hidden in a bundle of sheets, but a limp hoof tipped red was hanging out. Luna had entered the hospital just as the form was whisked inside a room.

Now she paced, watching the door as Doctors and Nurses burst in and out, some splattered with red and others with wide and horrified eyes. Luna tried peeking in the window but all she could see was a limp form splattered with blood and a heart monitor. Luna growled and faced Doctor Stable. "Let me in!" She snapped.

Stable shook his head. "No. She's very injured and weak and we're going into an operation." He said. He backed up when Luna thrust her face into his. "Well I'll sit watching because if it's one of my friends and they die in there without me, you will wish you'd let me in." She snarled. Stable hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, but don't speak to the Operators and keep quiet. One mistake and this pony will lose her life." He ordered.

Luna followed him inside the dark room. Her hooves clopped on the ground and she sat down. The pony was hidden underneath her hospital gown, which looked like it was much too big for her. Luna looked closer, looking for any signs of a rainbow mane or blue wings. Rainbow Dash wasn't with them, I hope it isn't her in that gown. But no, this filly had no wings, no blue and no rainbow. She could make out a red-tipped pearly white hoof.

A cry came from the table. "Shhh. It's ok little one." Nurse Redheart whispered, petting the young filly with a hoof. Luna leaned forwards but was pushed back by Doctor Stable. "Leave her." He whispered, then turned his back and resumed what he was doing. Luna sat down and looked at the table.

She stayed there for hours while they worked, occasionally pacing. Then, after several hours, she sank to the floor, exhausted. She felt a reassuring hoof on her head and a soft voice came into her ear,

"Sleep Luna. Nopony here will blame you."

With that, Luna slipped into an easy sleep, the tempting blackness enfolding her like Raven wings.

~~~

Luna opened her eyes when a loud wail echoed around the room. She scrambled to her hooves. "What happened?" She demanded, eyes wide and hair raising along her spine. Nurse Redheart had turned away, her eyes filled with tears. "It's too late." Doctor Stabled bowed his head, legs shaking. Nurse Tenderheart wailed again.

Luna crept over and shoved passed Doctor Stable who tried to block her. "Let me see." She snapped. She looked at the young filly, and nearly burst into tears right there. "No... Not her, please not her." She begged, looking at the doctor and nurses. "Please tell me she isn't dead, oh her poor sister!" She burst into tears that time and looked back at the pearly white filly.

Before her eyes was a hideously scarred young filly. Most of the deep gashes were stitched up, some were scabbed over but one gash on her head still dripped with thick red blood.

"She was helping Scootaloo get her cutie mark and she fell off the scooter and down a rocky hill." He explained, looking at the white filly with tears in his eyes.

Her cutie mark, 2 music notes stood out black against her pearl white hair, her pale purple and pink mane was torn and grit dotted it, her green eyes were wide open and empty.

Sweetie Belle was dead.

For the past hour, loud thumping on the door had echoed around the room. Finally, an orange pegasus and a yellow earth pony burst in when the earth pony had bucked the door clear off the hinges.

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle's body in horror. Her hammer cutie mark was emblazoned on her flank and she wailed. "She can't be dead! She just got 'er cutie mark, she's too young!" She cried, eyes full of tears.

Scootaloo was right behind her friend, a wheel surrounded by purple fire glowed on her flank and she leaned over her friend's body, tears soaking her face. "Sweetie, please don't be dead, please!" She wailed, violet eyes wide with fear and misery. He violet mane drooped and Apple Bloom sank to the floor sobbing.

Luna limped out of the room, ditraught weighed her steps and she let the tears come. She looked up and felt her shoulders droop harder.

Rarity met her. "Sweetie Belle, is she safe?" She shouted. When Luna remained silent, her eyes blazed. "TELL ME!" Luna shook her head. "She didn't make it." Rarity let out a scream and ran in, followed by wails and sobs. Rarity's parents rushed in the door and into the room. Luna couldn't take it anymore. Her horn blazed and she teleported back to the palace and collapsed on her bed crying.

Discord burst into the room. "Luna!" He cried. He flung himself over and hugged her. "Don't tell me..." Luna looked up and nodded. "Sweetie Belle. She got into an accident and now she's dead." She sniffled. Discord hugged her again. "Try and get some sleep, I'll take care of the moon tonight my love." He said, stroking her mane and then walking out.

Luna was exhausted. She crawled into bed and was asleep immediately, tears still dripping from her eyes.

~~~

Luna woke up. It was dark out, the moon high in the sky.

Luna smiled to herself, then cried out in horror when she looked in the mirror. Her teeth were razor sharp and her legs were longer. Her hair was slightly darker and her eyes were narrowed, like Nightmare Moon.

Luna backed away in horror and fell over, shaking. "No... Please don't take me..." She begged. A cloud of purple surrounded her and she crawled under her covers, whimpering and sobbing. She looked back up and saw that her fur was black.

Nightmare Moon watched from the ceiling, a cloud of purple smoke. "Dearest Luna, I will have you. Those ponies couldn't hold me for long." She purred, loud enough for the Princess to hear her. Luna looked up and screamed desperately, fear and sorrow echoed around her room after her painful yell,

"NO!"

Surprise

Luna woke up screaming.

She looked in the mirror and screamed again. She didn't have sharp teeth or long legs or slit eyes, but her hair was midnight black. She whimpered and hid under her blanket, then realized she had to do the sun. What will they do if they see me like this?

Her mind was racing and whirling, but she couldn't just leave her subjects in eternal night. She jumped down from her bed and trotted out the door.

Luna raised the sun, then flew back into her room. The light of day flooded her room, bathing everything in a pearly light. She sighed happily, a decision finally came to her mind.

"If I can keep from getting angered or sad, I can beat Nightmare Moon, she came to be through anger and sadness so preventing that will eventually make her leave. But I can't stay cooped up in the palace all day, I'll go for a stroll later and maybe visit Twilight and her friends." She murmured to herself, casting another quick glance at the mirror.

"Maybe Twilight can help me." She sighed and raced out the door, extending her black wings and shooting across the sky towards Ponyville.

~~~

Luna knocked on the door to the library, ignoring the wide-eyed stares of the ponies around her. She heard a faint whisper and whipped around. "I'm asking Twilight for help with this! GO!" She hollered at them cursing herself for getting angry when they all ran in terror.

Spike opened the door. "Princess Luna! What happened?" He asked, looking at her black hair. Luna sighed. "Please Spike, just get Twilight and tell her to call all her friends over here. It's a matter of Equestria's safety." She explained. The baby dragon nodded and ran up the stairs. "Twilight! Princess Luna is here to speak to you!" He called.

A violet unicorn rushed down the stairs. Her hoof caught on the edge of one and she tumbled down. She scrambled to her hooves and rushed over. "Princess Luna! What can I do for you?" She gasped, out of breath. One of her legs was stinging but she ignored it. She limped towards her table and beckoned with her tail. "Please come in."

Luna sat down at the table. "Nightmare Moon is coming, that's why my fur is black." She explained, cutting to the chase. She closed the door with her magic. "Call your friends over here, this a matter of Equestria's safety. I heard that Fluttershy got out of the hospital so after we finish speaking about Nightmare Moon, I'd like to speak to her privately." She ordered. Twilight nodded and limped off. Luna smiled slightly, amusement clear in her eyes. "And put something on that leg."

~~

All 7 ponies were gathered at the table. 2 Unicorns, 2 Pegasi, 2 Earth Ponies and an Alicorn. Luna put her hoof on the table. "Last night I had a vision, a nightmare. Nightmare Moon is trying to take me over again and we need to keep her at bay, for the sake of Equestria. I have to keep from getting angered or upset, which is what brought her on last time. I won't stay cooped up in the castle because then I'll lose it. Any suggestions?" She looked around and noticed that Twilight was holding her leg over one stomach, as if it was causing her pain or discomfort. Luna noted to speak to her after Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash raised a hoof. Luna looked at her expectantly. "Well Princess, I suggest having a bodyguard. Someone tough, someone who's fearless. They could guard you from getting upset and having Nightmare Moon take over." She suggested, pink eyes gleaming. Luna chuckled. "I'll consider it. Pinkie Pie?" She turned to the pink earth pony, who was waving her hoof frantically in the air.

"Have a party!" She exclaimed. Luna smiled. "Maybe, but I expect you to throw it." She had to stifle a giggle when Pinkie Pie jumped around squealing. Applejack had to pull her back down.

Applejack turned back to Luna. "If I may Princess, I suggest stayin' around yer friends, ya know, keepin' away from strangers and such. Maybe you should spend more time with Discord so that ya stay happy." She added. Luna nodded. "That sounds logical, but I haven't seen him around lately, I have no idea where he is." She sighed.

Twilight nodded and Fluttershy raised a hoof shyly. "I-I think you could spend some time at my cottage and see the animals there. They always cheer me up. I-if that's ok with you, I mean." She murmured. She shifted in her chair and winced when her wing knocked against the back of the chair. Luna nodded, then looked at Twilight and Rarity.

"Anything?" She asked. Twilight shook her head and after a moment's hesitation, Rarity did too. "Alright. Rainbow Dash, if you can could you do bodyguard duty? Fluttershy, I'll come by your cottage later today. Pinkie, tomorrow afternoon you host a party. Invite anypony you want. Rarity, could you make a dress? I love your designs and one of your outfits would be great. Twilight and Fluttershy, I'd like to speak to you both. Fluttershy, come with me." Luna gave out the directions, then beckoned with her tail to the butter-yellow pegasus, who limped after her.

Luna faced Fluttershy and they sat down behind a bookcase. "Are you alright?" She asked. Fluttershy nodded. "Oh yes. The Doctors said I just needed a couple weeks until I could get out of these casts," She looked at the Princess shyly, "You saved my life. If it wasn't for you, I'd be dead. Nurse Sweetheart told me all about what happened. Thank you." She dipped her head.

Luna smiled. "I would do it for any of my subjects." She replied, a bright smile on her face. She felt happier than she had in days. "Alright, could you get Twilight for me?" She asked. Fluttershy nodded, dipped her head and went to get the purple unicorn.

Twilight came around and nodded to the Princess. Her cheeks were a light pink and she kept flashing swift glances at her friends.

Luna nodded back. "Why do you keep fidgeting? Is your leg alright?" She asked. Before Twilight could answer, she went on, "I saw holding your leg across your belly, what's wrong Twilight?" She asked, eyes sparking with concern.

Twilight gulped and turned away, blushing. She murmured something but Luna didn't catch it. "Come again?" She said, leaning forwards. She was really worried now, Twilight always confided in her, ever since Celestia died.

Twilight straightened up and looked Luna in the eye. Her cheeks were bright pink and she looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her. "I'm... I'm..." Luna frowned.

"Twilight you know I won't turn into Nightmare Moon if you tell me, so just tell me." She pressed, concern giving way to fear.

Twilight was shaking now. She squared her shoulders and closed her eyes, announcing her secret for everypony in the library to hear.

"I'm pregnant."