Book one: A Losing Battle
Chapter 1
Prologue
The invasion of Equestria devastated everypony, the constant threat of the changelings caused a general fear that pleased Equestria’s new queen. Fear meant nopony to challenge her rule, it meant on uprising. It meant complete control.
“My queen,” one of her generals said.
“Yes, what is it?”
“It appears that we have found her.”
“Where? Speak quickly.”
The stallion was quick to reply, “I-in the Everfree forest, she appears to be nursing Celestia.”
“Celestia?” this was a surprise to Nightmare, she thought she had killed her during the final battle, right before Luna separated herself from her original body, “Leave them be, if Luna is nursing Celestia, then the pose no immediate threat. Send out a scout patrol, but do not hurt them.”
“Of course,” the pegasus replied as it flew into the night sky.
Nightmare grinned at the moon that had kept her prisoner for so long. Her rule meant she could look up at it whenever she wanted to. Without Celestia, there was no sun, no blue sky.
“Discord!”
“Yes, what is it?”
Nightmare looked up at the god of chaos, “please tell me how Luna and Celestia are able to hide in you so-called ‘Perfect Chaos’ I thought you were able to control everything.”
“Well, if they are able to hide, then they must be in the Everfree forest. I guess I forgot to tell you that my powers are useless there.”
Nightmare sighed, “go get Chrysalis, we three have some things to talk about.”
With an exasperated look, Discord disappeared into a cloud of smoke. A few moments later, he came back with Chrysalis, “this had better be important Nightmare,” the changeling queen said, as she got closer.
“It is, my scouts have found Luna and Celestia. I sent out a party to keep watch over them. Chrysalis, gather a group of your changelings, make sure they are good fighters, I have a feeling Luna’s not going to go quietly, but she will do anything for Celestia.”
“That’s the problem, my kind is dieing Nightmare, there is no way I could spare them I-”
“Silence! You will do as you’re told, I don’t care what state ’your kind’ is in. get together a group and send them to the forest, now”
Silently, Chrysalis bowed low and walked away.
“Discord, keep an eye on her,” Nightmare said once Chrysalis was gone.
“Ugh, why?”
“Because, I don’t trust her,” she said.
Chapter One
“Luna,” Celestia weakly called, her voice hardly above a whisper, “Luna, please, I-I need you to get Twilight and her friends.”
“But, how? They took off before she took over; nopony has seen them since then.”
“Our old castle Luna, they are at the old castle.”
Sighing, Luna stood up, “I will get them, expect me back soon.”
Celestia only nodded, which was all Luna was looking for before she ran outside of the house that they had been hiding for the past three years. The way there was still fresh in her mind from her occupation in Nightmare’s mind. Within minutes, she saw the tip of the tower pierce the sky. At the top, a faint light flickered, knowing that it was they Luna flew up to the window.
“Luna?” a chorus of voices yelled when she landed.
“No, that’s not Luna, she’s a changeling,” Rainbow Dash called as she stared to fly towards Luna.
“Wait, she’s not a changeling,” a quiet voice said.
Rarity look at the yellow pegasus, “how can you be sure darling?”
Walking to the front, Flutter Shy looked at Luna, “Princess, could you please move that cup, with your magic of course.” Confused, Luna obliged, her horn glowing purple, “as you all saw, the colour of her magic was purple. If her magic was green, then she would have been a changeling.”
Twilight look confused, “but how did you-”
“During the war, a changeling took your form Twilight. I noticed that when he used his magic, it was green instead of your lavender.”
“Interesting, you’ll have to tell this to Celestia.”
“Luna, did you just say Celestia? She’s still alive?”
“Yes Twilight, and she sent me here to find you all, she is dire need of your skills Twilight. We need to move quickly.”
Twilight looked to her friends, they all nodded, “alright,” she said, “Let’s go.”
Luna smiled and led them to the bottom, when they were outside she led them through the trees to the house they were staying.
“Wait,” Rainbow said when she saw the building, “isn’t this, Phantom’s house?”
Twilight looked, “I-I think it is.” her eyes, as well as everypony else’s, started to fill with tears.
“I don’t understand,” Luna said, “who is this ’Phantom’?”
Everypony was silent, “He, He was the only colt I ever loved,” Rainbow finally said, “he died protecting me before Nightmare took control.”
“I am sorry, but we must go inside.”
Rainbow nodded and followed Luna inside, “Celestia,” Twilight yelled when the got inside.
“Twilight,” Celestia said weakly, “my favorite student.”
“It’s going to be okay Princess, I am going to help you.” she looked at Rainbow Dash, “Rainbow, could you please take them to Phantom’s room?”
“H-his room?”
“Rainbow, please, I know this is hard for you, it’s hard for me too, but please just take them to his room.”
Silently, Rainbow led the rest to a separate room in the house. Seeing all of his belongings surrounding her, Rainbow dash broke down, the cyan ponies face hidden by her rainbow mane.
“Come on y’all,” Apple Jack whispered, “let’s give her some alone time.”
Pinkie, her usually bouncing mane, straight, led them all to another room. Once she heard the door close, Rainbow Dash got up and walked around the room, smiling through her tears as she remembered every moment she spent with Phantom. Slowly walking over to his nightstand, Rainbow picked up a picture of the two of them, it was framed in gold and silver. In the picture, that he drew himself, they were looking at each other, smiling.
“I miss you so much,” Rainbow whispered through her sobs, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” a voice said from behind her.
Rainbow Dash spun around to see a grey colt, “Ph-Phantom?”
He nodded, his own eyes filling with tears.
Rainbow ran into his arms, burying her face into his black and green coloured mane. Embracing her Phantom whispered, “it’s okay Rainbow, I’m here.”
Wiping her eyes, Rainbow Dash looked up at him, “but how?”
Phantom looked down at her, “I had help.”
