The moon had not moved – not even an inch. Cosmo, on the other hand, had just managed to stand once again, although a bit less stable than he would have liked. He clenched his teeth and tried to shrug off the pain, but he still had a slight limp. He longingly thought back to the nurse that had wrapped his wing back at home, wishing for any kind of relief.

With a groan, Cosmo turned and made his way over to Nightmare Moon’s twisted throne. The silence and lack of an evil aura confirmed the evil mare’s absence, which helped Cosmo feel a little bit better.

His golden eyes landed on a peculiar mechanism. He walked over to the mechanism and realized that it was the same thing that the dark mare had been mulling over earlier. An inscription on the ancient mechanism read ‘Elements of Harmony’. Cosmo’s eyes narrowed.

Naturally, he knew of the elements, they were documented well within the records of his own country. I wonder if this is Twilights plan? He thought. Too bad it won’t work. These elements are fake. Cosmo frowned. Masterfully crafted, but they have zero magical energy.

His thoughts were put to rest as he put too much weight on his foreleg. With a grunt and a grimace, he nearly collapsed again. He had spent enough bonding time with the ancient stone floors already. He stood up straight again, this time using constant telepathy to support the bad leg.

This technique would drain the energy of the average magic user very quickly, but Cosmo had mastered it so well that it barely cost him anything at all. Most of the unicorns and alicorns that he knew had neglected training their psychokinesis to the max, so much so that the only other pony that could match Cosmo was his own late teacher. He thought back to one of his first lessons with the brilliant unicorn.

“Ah, very good!” Professor Callum remarked, “For a beginner, your psychokinesis is very good!”

A teenage Vesper grinned, “Thanks, professor!” He put down the crystal that he had been levitating. “It takes a lot out of me, though.” He wiped some sweat from his brow.

“Well of course it does!” Professor Callum grinned. “You’re only beginning to learn, young prince!”

Vesper tilted his head. “So, it’ll get easier?”

Professor Callum nodded and stood still for a moment, before his eyes widened. “Why don’t I show you an example?”

Vesper nodded enthusiastically, “Yes please!”

The professor then raised two crystals in the air. One of them was as big as Vesper’s head, and the other was the size of his hoof. The small crystal had the doctor’s familiar white magical aura surrounding it, while the large one did not.

Professor Callum grinned, turning back to Vesper. “Now, Vesper, which crystal is costing me more energy to lift?”

Vesper frowned. “The big one? Is this a trick question?”

“You are such a bright pupil!” The professor confirmed, “it is indeed a trick. Do you see my magical aura surrounding the small crystal?”

Vesper nodded.

“That aura is my own excess magical energy escaping my reserves because it is not focused enough. The small crystal is taking me more energy to lift because I’m wasting it on nothing. The big crystal, however, costs me a fraction of the energy. Instead of surrounding the rock with my magic to lift it, I have focused my magic onto a single, infinitely small point that we know as the center of mass. Thus, every little bit of my magic is being used for telekinesis, and none of it is wasting away into the air.”

Vesper nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense.”

“I’m glad, many of my students fail to grasp the concept at first.” Professor Callum set down the crystals. “Though, in order to perform to that level, you require mental fortitude, and training. Rest assured; you will master this difficult magic in no time!”

Cosmo let the memory fade, a pang of loss settling within his chest. I miss you, old friend. The curse of immortality caused him to avoid creating too many serious relationships. He wouldn’t have much more time to recollect though.

Cosmo froze, a loud noise broke the silence. The main doors had slammed open, and Nightmare Moon’s dark, suffocating aura coated the room. But it wasn’t as oppressive as it was before. Something about the dark mare was… off.

“Hey.” Cosmo said dryly, masking his unease.

The alicorn’s eyes narrowed. She marched past him, muttering to herself.

“Your elements are fake,” he called after her. “Just thought you should know.”

Nightmare Moon snapped around, eyes blazing. “Of course they’re fake!” She hissed, “Why do you think I’m trying to split up your little friends?” Her voice dripped with malice, but Cosmo detected something else – anxiety.

“Just trying to be helpful,” he replied with a shrug, his sarcasm earning him a snarl.

“You are naught but an annoyance!” she spat, “you would be dead if not for certain… complications.” She let the word hang.

A chill crept down his spine. Before he could respond, Nightmare Moon’s magic wrapped around him like a vice. She tossed him toward a side door near her throne. “Stay out of my way,” she growled, locking him inside.

Cosmo smirked in the darkness, despite the pain of being thrown to the floor again. So that’s it, huh? Maybe Twilight’s plan will work after all.

It had been about fifteen minutes of sitting in the dark, silent room when he heard commotion from the throne room. Twilight’s here!

He smiled and unlocked the door with telekinesis. Nightmare Moon must be really arrogant if she expected a single locked door to hold him back. He made himself invisible, then snuck out to observe the commotion. If he was right about Twilight, he shouldn’t show himself.

From the shadows, he watched as Twilight approached the fake Elements, her horn glowing faintly. She muttered to herself, “Just a spark… just a spark.”

Nightmare Moon was on the other side of the hall, facing away from Twilight. She turned around, only to see a spark fly from the tip of the unicorn’s horn. Just as this happened, Cosmo felt the warm presence of an ancient and powerful magic, one he had never felt before. The Elements… the real ones.

Nightmare Moon must have felt it too. She turned, her expression swapping from confusion to panic. “NO!” she screamed, her voice echoing like a thousand storms. In a desperate attempt to stop the unicorn, she charged, each step sounding quicker than the last. She wasn’t far from Twilight now. Just a few more strides, and Nightmare Moon would essentially be on top of her.

But then, the magic stopped.

And so did Nightmare Moon. Relief washed over her face as she cackled triumphantly. “Did you truly think you could best me alone? I am NIGHTMARE MOON, and you are but a bug which lies below my boot!” With a vicious sneer, she shattered the fake Elements into shards.

Twilight, undeterred, met her gaze. “Maybe not,” she said, her voice steady, “but I’m not alone.”

“Yeah! She has us!” announced a grinning Rainbow Dash, Flying in through the deprecated ceiling.

The main doors burst open with a resounding boom. Through the dust and debris, four more ponies galloped into the room.

Applejack spoke first, voice brimming with confidence. “We’ve got your back, Twilight. No matter what.”

“Why did you rush in without us, darling?” Rarity asked with a huff, then shook her head. “Never mind, there are more important matters to attend to.”

“After we win, I’ll throw the BIGGEST celebration party EVER!” Pinkie Pie chimed in with a bounce, “and guess what? You’re not invited!”

Fluttershy’s voice was barely above a whisper, but her determination shone through. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Nightmare Moon’s laugh was harsh, dripping with disdain. “So? What can five more inexperienced ponies do to me?” Her voice echoed ominously in the chamber.

Twilight stood tall, the spark of magic growing in her horn. “You don’t get it, Nightmare Moon,” she said, her voice growing more confident with each word. “The Elements of Harmony aren’t just gemstones. They’re real ponies!”

Cosmo watched as the color drained from Nightmare Moon’s face, and he couldn’t help but wish he had a camera.

The magic in the room surged, rising to an unbearable intensity. The air crackled with power, multicolored sparks materializing out of nowhere and swirling around each of Twilight’s friends. The sparks coalesced into glowing gemstones, each resembling the cutie mark of its bearer.

With an echoing crackle, the gems floated upward, and one by one, the ponies began to rise off the ground. Their eyes glowed with radiant light as the magic of the Elements coursed through them.

“Applejack, throughout our friendship, and your refusal to lie, you have proven yourself as the element of Honesty!”

Applejack’s gem blazed with golden light.

“Rainbow Dash, through temptations and peril, you have proven yourself as the element of Loyalty!”

A bright red glow surrounded Rainbow Dash’s gem as she smirked confidently.

“Rarity, shown by your many displays of charity, you possess the element of Generosity!”

Rarity’s gem burned like a brilliant white flame, her head held high.

“Pinkie Pie, by your actions and tireless mission to brighten up everyone’s day, there is no pony better suited to be the element of Laughter!”

Pinkie’s gemstone erupted in a bright blue hue, almost outshining her radiant grin.

“And Fluttershy, the gentlest pony I have ever met, you hold within you, the element of Kindness!”

Fluttershy’s gem glowed softly, like the first rays of dawn.

Twilight herself began to float now, and to Nightmare Moon’s horror, a large star-shaped gem appeared before her. “And to combine and strengthen these elements, I have been chosen to wield the element of Magic!”

The Elements’ glow intensified, quickly becoming blinding. Cosmo gasped as the sheer force of magic shattered the illusion hiding him, leaving him fully visible. He scrambled back, realizing too late how close he was to Nightmare Moon. With a desperate leap, he dove out of the way, just as a colossal beam of light burst forth.

The rainbow-colored energy engulfed Nightmare Moon, swirling around her in a vortex of pure magic. She cried out, her voice twisting into something fragile and desperate before being swallowed entirely by the light.

The sheer intensity of the blast forced Cosmo to cover his eyes and ears. The sound was deafening, like a storm tearing through the sky, and the light was brighter than the sun. For what felt like hours, he could only lay there, trembling under the weight of the magic. Even while his kingdom was being attacked, he felt capable of doing something. But here and now, Cosmo felt truly and utterly helpless for the first time.

And then, it stopped.

The silence was deafening. Slowly, he raised his head, then got to his feet. He looked around. Residual magic filled the air, giving him the feeling of a foggy morning. To Cosmo’s surprise, the building was completely untouched – no shattered stone, and no scorched walls.

Twilight and her friends stood in the center of the room, their gems fading back into motes of light. They seemed calm, almost serene, as if the magic had left them untouched.

But Nightmare Moon did not share that fate. Where she had stood was now a small, lilac alicorn, curled up on the cold stone floor. Her mane shimmered faintly, but she looked fragile and exhausted.

Cosmo exhaled deeply, relief washing over him. A lot had happened in such a short amount of time, and now it was finally over.

Before he could say anything, a new presence entered the room. Through the open doors strode a tall, regal alicorn, her coat as white as snow. Her flowing mane shimmered in shades of green, blue, and pink, and an image of the sun adorned her flank. This had to be Princess Celestia.

Twilight and her friends were all visibly excited to see Celestia, and she looked happy to see them. They would be talking for a while.

Still unnoticed by the others, he approached the lilac alicorn cautiously. “Hey,” he said softly. “Are you still evil, or are you done?”

The alicorn lifted her head groggily. “I- I think I’m done.”

Cosmo smiled softly, keeping his tone light. “Your actual name isn’t Nightmare Moon, is it?”

The alicorn flinched ever so slightly but quickly steadied herself. “No. Nightmare Moon is a shadow I allowed to consume me. My true name is Princess Luna of Equestria.” Her voice faltered as she continued, “and I will spend the rest of my days ensuring I am never that thing again.”

Cosmo’s expression softened. “Good answer. That name never suited you anyway.” Not to mention weird and edgy. He kept that part to himself.

Luna stumbled slightly as she tried to stand, her legs shaky. Cosmo caught her with his magic before she could fall. “Easy there. You’ve had a rough day… or, well, millennium.”

Luna managed a small, weary chuckle. “I suppose I am a little out of practice. My body feels… foreign.”

“I can imagine,” Cosmo replied, thinking of when he first transformed into a unicorn. “Though if you’re anything like me, you might want to take it slow before you accidentally fall over again.” He could tell how utterly drained she was.

Luna relaxed slightly, but there was a guarded look in her eyes. She studied him, as if trying to piece him together. “You… you were the one Nightmare Moon dealt with earlier, weren’t you?”

Cosmo nodded, his grin turning sheepish. “Guilty. You were a bit, uh, dramatic back there, if I’m being honest.”

Luna frowned, guilt shadowing her expression. “Dramatic is an understatement. I saw and heard everything she did. She threatened you, toyed with you, and still, you mocked her?” Her voice dropped to a whisper-yell, her teal eyes piercing Cosmo’s soul. “Are you mad?”

Cosmo responded instantly. “Yeah, probably.” Luna raised her eyebrow.

Cosmo mentally slapped himself. “Sorry, I don’t really plan these things, they just kind of happen. And to be fair, I didn’t think she’d let me walk away with my life, but here we are.”

Luna’s incredulous stare lingered for a moment before she sighed, her expression softening. “You’re either brave or utterly foolish. Either way, you have my respect.” She paused with a puzzled expression, “Did she never ask your name?”

Cosmo thought for a moment. “No, I think she was too preoccupied with her evil plans or whatever.” Luna gave him a flat look. “Oh, my name is Cosmo. I’m a traveler from across the sea.”

Luna nodded, “It’s a pleasure.”

Before either could speak again, Celestia approached, her presence radiant yet wary. Her gaze lingered on Cosmo for just a moment, then shifted to Luna.

“Luna?” Celestia’s voice trembled, unsure of how to feel.

Luna turned toward her, exhaustion clear in her movements. “Sister?” she whispered, her voice fragile yet full of longing.

Celestia didn’t wait. She rushed forward, tears falling down her face as she rushed to wrap her sister in a tight embrace.

Cosmo backed away, giving the sisters space, and walked over to Twilight.

“I’m tired,” Cosmo said, “I think that I’m going to find a place to sleep for the night.”

Twilight gasped, “Cosmo, what are you doing here!” Before he could answer, she threw her hooves around him in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re ok!”

Cosmo froze, awkwardly patting her on the back. “Yeah, um, you too. Great teamwork out there.” He quickly wriggled free, shooting a nervous glance toward the alicorn sisters. The last thing he wanted was to give them the wrong impression. “Anyway, I’d better be going now.”

Celestia’s voice cut through the air, calm but firm. “Why don’t you wait a moment, Cosmo? Luna wishes to speak with you.”

At this point, Cosmo didn’t care about first impressions. “Can’t we do this tomorrow? I’m about to crash.” I should have left while I had the chance.

Celestia gave a small smile. “That’s the plan,” she said, her tone polite yet cool. “I will arrange for a room at Canterlot Castle. It will be easier to ensure you are well-rested and available.”

She placed the now-asleep Luna into an ornate carriage that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. “We’ll discuss everything tomorrow.” She added.

Cosmo sighed and relented, walking to the carriage. “Alright, but I want a window seat.

Celestia didn’t respond, but a faint smirk decorated her lips.

Twilight and her friends waved goodbye as Cosmo clambered into the carriage. Celestia followed, and their adventure to Canterlot began.

Epilogue (NMM Arc)

Celestia’s voice echoed across the grand room of the day court. Several members of the nobility had come to her this morning, and all of them said the exact same thing.

“Your majesty, this unicorn fended off Nightmare Moon! Alone! With a pair of scissors! It’s not safe for him to live in the population center of Equestria! Not to mention that Nightmare Moon herself is now among us! As ruler of Equestria, it is your job to keep the citizens safe, and those two are bound to upset that.”

“You can rest easy, Noble Emerald, the unicorn is under my personal supervision, and Luna is no longer a threat to this country. In fact, I plan to revert to a diarchy once she is ready.”

Noble Emerald grunted – unhappy with Celestia's answer – and stormed off.

Author's Note

Chat I'm alive. I live in the south, but we got snow, so I was out and about frolicking and such, instead of writing. Also, a lot of people are reading this, so massive W. I love to see it.
I hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you at the next chapter! (No, the epilogue does not mean the story is over lol.)
-Squid
(The next chapter will be closer to 4000 words I promise)