Overthrown Book One: The Civil War Begins

It was a beautiful day in the country of Equestria! Pegasi flew up in Cloudsdale, ready to catch a Wonderbolts show or go to Flight School. Unicorns practiced their magic at the Friendship School, with hopes that they would pass their next exam. Land ponies were off to work themselves in Ponyville, either harvesting apples at Sweet Apple Acres or baking cakes and the like at Sugar Cube Corner. Things were going smoothly and peacefully.

Today was particularly a special day. It was the day that Twilight Sparkle was going to be crowned ruler of all of Equestria. Princess Celestia knew she was getting old and couldn't rule the country forever. With Twilight being her best student, she knew no one could help keep harmony in Equestria better than she and her friends. After all, when you've fought dragons, babysat animals, solved multiple friendship problems, and even participated in a turkey call contest, you knew a thing or two about friendship and harmony. The Mane Six, as they were called, were helping prepare for the night's coronation and they knew things had to be perfect. Rarity especially felt all the pressure.

"Alright everypony," Rarity said, taking the helm as a private would do when the colonel had the day off. "Let's put the ice sculptures there, and let's put the buffet here."

Applejack used all her strength to make sure the orders of the fancy party-planning pony were met.

"How's this?!" Apple said, showing Rarity where she put the ice sculpture.

"Excellent, darling! But maybe a little farther!" Rarity said.

"Rarity! Do we really have to have a dress code for this event?!" Pinkie Pie whined as she read over the dress code.

"Yes, we do Pinkie! This is a coronation!" Rarity said. "It's meant to be a fancy dress event. But you can get creative with the music if you like."

"YAAAAAY!" Pinkie Pie said, her signature Pinkie Pie energy blasting off like a rocket going to Mars.

"Rarity, you look stressed," Fluttershy said, as she put the decorations on the wall with the help of her animals. "Breath."

"Of course, I'm stressed, Fluttershy," Rarity said. "THIS IS THE CORONATION OF OUR FRIEND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE! WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE SHE MAKES A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION! WE PROMISED EQUESTRIA!"

"Don't be hard on yourself, Rarity," Rainbow Dash said, as she finished hanging the balloons at aircraft-level speeds. "Twilight already has a great reputation in Equestria! We've saved it multiple times, probably more than I can even count. She'll be a great ruler."

"You're right," Rarity said, with a smile. "This is honestly the best work I've done yet. I haven't even gotten started on..."

Just then, a laugh was heard in the distance. It wasn't a typical happy-go-lucky laugh either. It was cold, like a cold breeze on a winter's day, and villainous. The foals stopped in their tracks after hearing that laughter, fear evident on their faces.

"What was that?!" Fluttershy asked.

"I have no idea," Rainbow said.

Just then, a mysterious pony appeared at the doorway. He was as black as Princess Luna and as tall as her as well. But his tail ended in a group of spikes, almost like he was a demon of sorts. He had wings that were just as black as his fur but had red stripes on the ends. He had three different horns on his head, one that was black, one that was white, and one that was grey. He looked like something out of a horror movie centered around a dystopian wasteland, served with a heaping helping of foreshadowing.

"Well, well, well," the mysterious foal spoke. "This is where I hear Princess Twilight is having her coronation."
"Uh... Yeah," Pinkie said, still quivering in fear. "Who are you?"

"Oh! Where are my manners?!" The demonic foal said. "I'm Moondust Bloom, ruler of Darkaria, and Celestia's sister. See, I was supposed to be the one to take my big sister's throne someday. I was so close to getting everything I'd ever wanted! But what did my big sister do?!"

Moondust used his three horns to shoot at a table in a fit of rage. The table melted into a pile of wood shavings and sawdust, much to Rarity's dismay.

"SHE CHOSE SOME STUDENT OF HERS SHE BARLEY KNEW!!!" Moondust yelled. "Also, guess what she did to me, her own brother when I questioned that choice. She banished me from Equestria, usurped me from my throne, and sent me away to some wasteland. IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!!! NOW I'M STUCK RULING SOME PATHETIC WASTELAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

After that little outburst, a smile drew from Moondust's face. "But now that there's about to be a new queen ruling this land, I will make sure I take everything from her, just like how my sister took everything from me."

Suddenly, a purple zap of a certain alicorn came out of nowhere and blasted Moondust into the decorations, further causing Rarity anxiety. Everyone looked over and saw Twilight Sparkle, wings glowing purple, horn blazing, and confidence on her face. Beside her was Princess Celestia, still looking youthful at her old age.

"Leave them alone, brother," Celestia said, still having her authoritarian assertion. "I know you're frustrated over everything. But especially after seeing this display of greed, I can't in good conscience let you rule. I noticed a darkness in you that was far too deep to be able to rule anything. So please: Leave now, before things escalate."
Moondust Bloom looked at the princesses, then back at the Mane Six. Then he let out an evil hyena-like chuckle, more intimidating than any villain you may have seen.

"OK sister," Moondust said. "I'll go. But this is far from over. I'm gonna start a little civil war in Equestria that not even you or Twilight can solve with the power of friendship. I'm gonna take everything from you, just like you took everything from me. So enjoy your little celebration now, because your downfall has already begun."

Just like that, Moondust let out a howl of laughter, as he slammed the door so hard that all of the party decorations toppled to the ground. Rarity fainted at the site of all her hard work turned into a hurricane's aftermath. But right now, there were more important matters at hand than a party setup.

"What just happened?" Twilight asked.

"That was my brother, Moondust Bloom," Celestia said. "He's been set on revenge on me for ages. I don't know how he got powerful enough to start a civil war with me. But we need to act fast."
At that moment, a banging on the palace door was heard, alongside riot-like screaming. Everyone looked in fear at what was going on.

"Oh no," Twilight said, in fear. "I think..."

"It's already begun," Celestia said, in sadness and fear.

The rioters continued to bang on the door with various items.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"
Suddenly, the palace doors flew open and ponies of various species burst through the doors, ready to make a scene. Pegasi were armed with various dystopian weapons, unicorns had their horns ready to blast, alicorns had fire spells at the ready, and in the center of all this chaos, was a purple-maned orange pegasus who looked like a smaller version of Rainbow Dash.

"Bring me Twilight!" the orange pegasus said, in a familiar raspy voice.

Twilight bravely stepped forward and looked closely at the little pegasus and gasped.

"Scootaloo?!"