The Eclipse Civil War

Summer Sun Celebration

In the glory of the night and the shining of its sun, Canterlot and Equestria were covered. Little sound was made outside because of the early hour. However, as little as the sound may be, it beckons omens of destruction. Everfree Forest was as quiet as the night, which subdued the forest shortly after its arrival. Ponyville was more quiet than Canterlot, leaving nothing but the critters singing the songs that set the mood.

The sun princess was peacefully sleeping in her bed. Undisturbed by any intruding thought, creature or sound; And protected by her loyal guards.

The moon whispered in the books, and it will finally materialize its whispers at the night of this day.

Today was the grand day. It was the day in which the sun would receive its greatest appraisal. It was the day where the sun would take hold of the sky longer than any other time of the year. It was today that spoke hope and light and whispered darkness and omens

Today was the summer solstice. Today was the Summer Sun Celebration. Today was judgment day.

***

Celestia tiredly opened her eyes, from her bed, first realization is that she was caught in the trap of the silk sheets.

‘Great… Not again…’ She thought at the silky and comfortable trap.

After she is raises awareness of her surroundings, she glanced at the clock. 1 hour left until she lowers the moon below the horizon and raises the sun to the kingdom of the sky. Glancing at the calendar, she became aware of the specialty of this day. Today was Summer Sun Celebration. But this particular celebration carried a necessary sin that haunted Celestia for over one thousand years.

She attempted to get away from the cage of silk without magic. Not so bright. The trap would not let her go. And neither she was sure she wanted it to. But she had to get down.

‘You asked for it…’

When her white horn was surrounded with  a very faint golden aura, she released herself with natural ease. After all, it wasn’t the first time she was rushed out of her bed.

“Good.” She said as she lowered herself from the bed, straight into her shoes.

She opened her wardrobe with her magic, leveling the jewelry on her body. After a symphony of clicks, she opened the safe and took the tiara, on her head, behind her horn, and placing it comfortably on her ears. The rest can wait. She needs to raise the sun and lower the moon.

The queen of the sun advanced to the balcony and realized she had forgot her telescope there, but it didn’t matter at the moment.

She spread her wings as much as her body would allow her, rose her head as high as possible, and closed her eyes in a calming manner. It wasn’t something new. She concentrated in establishing a connection with the symbol of the night and then with the symbol of the day. She focused more and more, and as she concentrated she found it more difficult to connect with the moon. Her horn glowed from a faint gold to gold and then to bright gold… and then something happened. She felt pain, as if the symbol of the night backfired. No ‘as if’… it DID back fire, and Celestia felt a strong pain in her horn, head and chest.

‘I will not be alone, Celestia… I have returned. I shall see you soon, my dear sister…’ The ghastly voice pierced the serenity of the Queens mind like a shard of ice into water.

And then the moon complied perfectly.

Celestia then raised the sun, with a familiar and bonded ease. She raised it, and then it let it go on its own… The sun and moon move on their own, they just need to raised and lowered.

After the white alicorn has raised the sun, her focus shifted from its daily morning task to the process of realizing what she said. What did she meant by “I will not be alone”? She was the only one she sent to the moon, right? She couldn’t-

“Oh no…” Celestia said horrified, aware of what may have happened under her nose the whole time. Putting her jewelry, she commanded

“So this is what she was happening… Guards! Tell the captain of the royal guards that I have to meet him urgently. Immediately!” Celestia demanded as she opened the door.

“At once, Your Majesty!” The guards responded and began to escort the sun princess to the private chambers of the Minister.

‘We must prepare.’ Celestia thought as she walked with the guards in an alert manner.

Only the sun knows what awaits her student.

***

“Good afternoon…” Said a certain lavender mare with a very curly hairstyle to a white unicorn with well-maintained mane and tail, diamonds as cutie mark, and blue eyes with lashes.

“Just a moment please, I’m in the zone…”  Rarity responded, preoccupied on what to choose. Twilight didn't catch the last part.

“Oh yes! Sparkle always does the trick, does it not? Why, Rarity, you are a talent. Now, umm, how can I help youUUAAHAHA!” Rarity responded in shock as she saw the hairy storm on the unicorns head.

“Oh my stars, darling! Whatever happened to your coiffeur?” Rarity asked desperately.

“Oh you mean, my mane?” Twilight responded, puzzled by her sudden despair.

“Well it’s a long story… I’m just here to check on the decorations and I will be out of your hair!” She continued.

“Out of my hair, what about your hair?” Rarity responded as she pushed Twilight deeper into the chamber Rarity worked.

“Wait, where are we going? Help!” Twilight asked pleadingly.

***

In the orb of night, there, a mare of many thoughts and feelings…stood on a simple cliff.

Staring at the approaching keys of liberty.

At the keys of freedom… freedom not only for her.

But also for her nation.

And she wasn’t alone.

Behind the cliff, Behind her, stood individuals.

Individuals that once inhabited the symbol of peace and harmony.

***

“Good afternoon, Silver Point” Celestia said, making no effort to hide her annoyance after coming to the conclusion that after HOURS of searching, he wasn’t in the courtyard or within the palace. Sometimes the palace can be too big for comfort. Fortunately, she had the day scheduled for other affairs as well, so only the guards searched for him.

“Your Majesty, my greatest apologies for not letting you know where I was.” Silver Point bowed deeply and responded.

Silver Point was a Earth Pony with a dark blue on his coat, dark grey short mane while extended over his forehead it also lied lazily on his neck, tail being of the same color and style and touching the ground. His eyes were of dark purple The cutie mark was simple, but somehow imposing: Two spears crossed behind a golden shield. . He wasn’t the type to cause discomfort to the princess, as everypony else.

“Where were you?” Celestia asked colder than the ice, guards near her.

Silver Point never imagined he would hear a voice that could freeze his heart. His honesty spoke freely.

“Your Majesty, I was at the local Civil Security Station.”

“I will have you to explain to me the reason behind your visit later. I have some dire news that need your awareness.” Celestia spoke coldly as she nodded to the two guards.

The guards complied and left the two alone.

“Silver Point, there are less than 5 hour until nightfall comes to us… I want you to mobilize all the guards that are available, but in a discrete manner” Celestia began.

“May I ask why, Your Majesty?” Silver Point asked confused.

Celestia knew there was no point lying, so she explained:

“You see, the legend of the Mare in the Moon is real an-”

“Is real?!” Silver Point raised in panic and responded, but afterwards putting a hoof before his mouth, noticing the mistake of cutting her leader off.

The princess took a deep breath and continued, “Yes, it is real. And today this threat will return. This threat will hurt the innocent ponies and overthrow the Throne of Equestria. It is up to you and me to stop this. And only you must know of this, Silver Point.” Celestia finished.

Thinking at what he just heard, he responded: “Why would someone do such a thing? Why would somepony try and take you down? You are responsible for our order!” Silver Point said enraged.

“Save the flattering for later, you have work to do.” Celestia reminded the angry pony.

“Where would the guards be placed mostly, Your Majesty? Canterlot? Ponyville? Cloudsdale?” Silver Point was eager to strike anything threatening Celestia or the civilians.

Thinking deeply Celestia finally responded: “Canterlot…”

“Yes, Your Majesty! We will begin shortly!” Silver Point said, rushing out of the room.

‘My student is already in Ponyville, not to mention the possible chaos and panic there will be if the guards appeared. Canterlot has already a number of patrols, it will help me disguise the mobilization from the public. Cloudsdale, has its own defenses. I must not assume risks.’

***

On a distant, massive, frozen body, a small comet passed.

The comet changed its direction towards the planet.

And as the comet started to lower speed. It revealed its piece.

A flattened point of an arrow, with 2 streams of dark blue flowing from its back, advanced towards the white orb painted with cracks of blue.

As it advanced, it lowered speed, and then turned sharply,  and then turned sharply again.

And it advanced slower and slower.  Towards its main target.

It advanced and entered the metal structure orbiting the cracked pearl.

And as it landed into a gigantic room filled with boxes, gear and equipment, a part of the arrow, which was made mainly of  glass, opened.

Revealing the individual controlling the arrow.

***

“Isn’t this exciting? Are you excited? Cuz I’m excited. I was never so excited. Well, except of the time when you walked around this town, and I was like ‘haaa!’. But I mean, really, you can talk that-” The pink mare stated only to be cut off by the orchestra that invaded the what-was-supposed-to-be silence.

“Ladies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the summer sun celebration”

Everyone cheering, except Twilight.

“In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this the longest day of the year. And now it is my great honor to introduce you…”

Twilight glanced at the moon, panic and anxiety starting to build.

***

Celestia was prepared to appear in front of everypony and raise the sun. But, a dark blue aura materialized in front of her. And as it materialized it became clearer and clearer that it was the nightmare of the moon: Nightmare Moon. The sun princess could remember every detail of what once was. The turquoise dragon eyes, the black coat resembling the night, the chaotic mane and her blue armor.

“You… I should have known you will return this early.” Celestia stated coldly.

“Surprise, sister. Don’t worry about time, we haven’t met for a while...” Nightmare moon said.

She then raised her horn to the ceiling , an aura of black and trims of blue surrounded her horn as she shot a beam to the ceiling. The beam spread itself from the ceiling, completely covering the walls with a black smoke.

The two guards were on position to attack, and so they did. They lashed at Nightmare Moon only to be shoved off on the wall by Nightmare’s own guards. A darker version of Celestias guards difference being: the dark brown coat, the golden dragon eyes, their black webbed bat wings and black and dark blue armor with nightmare’s eye on their chest. Celestia acted fast she used her magic to defend her guards by levitating the guards and literally smashing them in the wall. The royal guards took this opportunity and attacked the guards.

Suddenly, a blue laser shot her. She resisted by forming a shimmering golden shield around her and charged her horn for the next attack, spreading her wings and shifting to combat position. She charged her horn, and it glowed harder, stronger and blinder than one thousand years ago. Under the unbelievably hard and intense pressure of the laser Nightmare Moon launched, Celestia could either risk and break the shield conserving the energy from the shield into the laser, or attack now making less damage than she could. She chose the first option.

The shield broke, and Celestia immediately launched the laser straight at her attacker. Both lasers, pushed each other and pushed each other, to the left or to the right. The center of pressure was the beacon of white light surrounded the contrast of yellow and blue between the golden rays of the sun and blue wrath of the night. It continued to move, to the left and to the right, never in the middle.

The guards did their best to stop the bat-winged creatures from tackling their princess. And vice-versa.

“You. Will. Fall! You will no longer corrupt your ponies in loving the sun! They deserve to be free! AND THEY! WILL! BE! FREE!!!” Nightmare Moon yelled, beacon further to the left. With every shout, she pushed the laser further to her death nemesis.

Celestia winced, but did not back down. “I will not allow you to make my subjects suffer under the eternal night. Not only that they will starve to death from the lack of light the crops will have, but also stealing their liberty of choice! This will only and ONLY happen when I will die and all the ponies are subdued to your corruption! This is what my sister would say! the sister that was the very first victim of your corruption!!!” Celestia yelled and used more of her strength. The golden ray doubled in intensity and rapidly crushed the resistance.

“I have lost my sister… But I will not lose my kingdom!” Celestia pushed harder than ever, moving the beacon dangerously close to victory.

“I will not fall to your lies… again!” Nightmare moon shouted as she used the cover of the of the room to attack all sun-loving faces in the room. Millions of black, thin lasers shot from everywhere attacking the guards, falling in seconds and then they all attacked the bringer of the sun.

Celestia cancelled the laser and created a divinely golden shield around her, millions of lasers stroke directly, but she resisted… she had to! The Fate of Equestria was in her students hooves, but that doesn’t mean she will not fight to avert the risks! The millions of lasers were assisted by a big blue laser all simultaneously trying to pierce her formidable defense. She resisted. The more firepower there was, the more could be absorbed and re-used. Even the guards attacked Celestia, viciously bucked with the hind legs. With all the firepower, she still resisted.

“Die! Die, Tyrant, Die!” Nightmare moon commanded, blinded by rage, enhancing all the magic and amplifying her guards using the power of the moon.

Celestia was losing strength, she couldn’t keep the shield for too long. She has to find a way to repel this.

‘there are 2 options; either run or fight… So much firepower is hard to counter, especially if my source of power is not present… But running would be foolish… No... I will not run… I will not run from my past sins…’

Celestia teleported away from the attacks, but she got blocked, discharged and knocked out at and by the wall’s aura. Her tiara and herself were falling on the ground. A tear was running down her cheek.

Amused by it, Nightmare moon laughed maniacally; “You run tried to run?! You tried to run from the battle for Equestria?! You are a shameful and weak leader!” Nightmare moon deduced coldly.

“Take care of her!” she commanded, the guards complied.

‘And now for my beloved subjects…’ Nightmare moon smirked.

As she shifted into starry, blue smoke, the guards got closer to Celestia. They got closer to the fallen leader, closer and closer until they invaded the private space of the pony. They heard sounds, and checked for anything in the room which could move. Nothing discovered. They went back to Celestia.

“What a weakling, how did this got to be our nation’s leader?” A guard asked sarcastically.

“What a shame…” The other guard responded saddened.

As they approached to take care of Celestia… two swords were silently levitating behind the guards. She then opened her eyes and stroke, with the speed that rivals the snakes, the two lunar guards in the neck. The swords passed their necks, they yelled but, who would hear? Their golden dragon pupils dilated and they opened their mouths for air, they also tried to push the swords out with their hooves, but it was pointless they bled until they fallen to the ground. Motionless.

The bringer of harmony, the leader of the most peaceful nation and the most harmonic one, the bringer of the sun, the one that was supposed to be most peaceful of all just murdered.

“As I said, I will not lose my kingdom to your envy… I will not allow you steal their freedom either.” Celestia whispered.

While she was slight wounds, she had almost no energy… But teleportation was possible.

“I must reach Everfree forest, now.” Celestia teleported out of the room, leaving the 2 guards with swords in their neck untouched.

***

In the long lightened hallway.

The archer moved, he had his prey.

Advancing and sometimes evading some of his kind,

As if they were blind.

He reached a door, Which showed so much more.

A room full of bright squares, rectangles and sometimes triangles.

Filled of letters, numbers and sometimes forms, all changing, from different points and angles.

He moved further, to one of his kind.

Having information for the blind.

He gave him an object.

That will have its great effect.

***

“When I realized that you all are my friends!” Twilight ended her statement, and above her the 6th element appeared. Surprised but not too much she continued.

“You see Nightmare Moon, when those elements are ignited by the… The Spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element… The Element of… Magic” As she finished, all six ponies were engulfed in a cocoon of light, and the pieces of the old artifacts merged into golden necklace with the cutie mark in form of a gem in the middle and a tiara with a star on top. They all united in the cocoon and 2 spinning rainbows lashed at Nightmare Moon.

The queen of the night, futilely created a shield… it was breached in an instant. She was caught in the tornado of rainbow, burning her rapidly. This was it, it’s over.

But then, something happened. The tornado got shattered by a black smoking shield with streams of crimson red. Nightmare Moon had her eyes tightly closed and she realizes that she wasn’t burning anymore. She opened her eyes slowly and the first things she saw were the wielders, in utter shock.

“H-How?” Twilight asked, still not recovering.

“Now, would you listen to the true story? How it all happened? What is not written in the books? Or would you like to continue fighting you?” Nightmare asked, taking advantage of sudden turn of events.

“Whatever you say will be lies!” A teal, rainbow colored mane and tail Pegasus said.

“Well… um… let us at least listen to her… if you know, she doesn’t hurt us…” The yellow Pegasus responded in her typical shyness.

“I will not hurt you, if I would, you would be dead long time ago. Believe me, I have reasons.” Nightmare Moon reassured.

“She has a point, sugar cube.” A orange pony said.

“It all started back to the day, when ponies still roamed free, and enjoyed the night… but my sister decided she should take this pleasure from me… for reasons-“

“LIES!” Rainbow snapped.

“Rainbow Dash! Let her finish…” Rarity said.

“…of her own benefit. She did a spell that made all the ponies more asleep during night. I don’t mean the ponies did not sleep at night, they also slept during day, but now they do nothing except sleeping during night, and they do anything during day, enjoying her sun, while ignoring my moon…” she said sorrowfully.

“How… horrible…” Rarity said, shocked.

“Moreover, when I asked her to talk about this, she ignored me and said, coldly, ‘that’s how it should be.’”

“The Princess would never say this! I know for so many years!” Twilight backfired.

“Yes, of course you do… the closer you are to her, The stronger the influence spell is…” Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes.

“HOW DARE YOU SAY THIS!” Rainbow boomed.

“It shouldn’t be this way…” the orange mare said, influenced by this story.

“Applejack?” The pink pony asked.

“I see equality for all ponies, whether they are unicorns, earth ponies, or Pegasus… or alicorn, but it was taken away! What would you prefer? To remain slaves of a spell Celestia made just for her interests? Or will you fight for what is right and just? There can be eternal night with light from the moon, mimicking the sun.” Nightmare Moon said as serious as ever.

“Only feather brains will join you! The princess would never do this to their subjects.” Rainbow responded loudly as ever

“The princess would never. Ever. Allow this to happen! I will stand by my princess!” Twilight slammed her hoof on the ground, determined to reject the fantasies she throws at them. She also knew that her friends would do the same.

“It is not fair for this to happen. I must stand against this.” Rarity stated firmly.

“Rarity? What are you doing?” Twilight asked confused, later turning into horror.

“I’m sorry girls but, everypony deserves equal attention.” Rarity moved towards the alicorn of the night.

“You’re making a grave mistake! You don’t even know if her stories are true! Please, stop!” Twilight said, extending her hoof towards her in an attempt to stop her.

“No, you are making a grave mistake… I will not stand against selfishness…” Rarity advanced and came close to the mare in the moon.

“A-Applejack?” Twilight asked, full of the greatest fear ever.

“If what she speaks is true, I will join her. I am an independent pony with an independent mind.” Applejack did the same as Rarity, letting her hat cover her eyes.

Twilight felt her heart sink.

“P-p-pinkie p-pie?” Twilight asked, desperation reigned in her eyes.

“No worries Twilight I will stay with you and our princess ‘till the end… she is too kind to even think such things.” Pinkie assured, staring evil into the eyes of the dark alicorn.

“Fluttershy? What will you do?” Rainbow asked boldly, but anxiety was in her too.

“I-i… I will join with the night ponies…”

“Huh? Come on Fluttershy, say louder!” Rainbow dash  shouted.

“I will be… with… nightmare moon…”

“Louder Fluttershy! Plea-“

“I AM JOINING THE NIGHT!!!” Fluttershy boomed louder than an angry manticore with a sting in its paw. Her voice rang through the entire Everfree Forest, possibly through Ponyville as well. She dashed crying at her friends near the black alicorn, crying and crying at her decision to abandon her friends. And when she arrived, she was greeted by Applejack and Rarity, who tried their best to comfort her.

“You see? They know what is correct in this world! You should do the same. The offer still stands. However, attack my subjects and you will be punished.” Nightmare Moon resentfully stated.

She and the 3 ponies below her were caught in an aura of dark blue and vanished into thin air… Leaving the 3 ponies crying and sobbing in the darkness and the gloom around them.

“Ho-how could they do this?” Twilight asked, drowned in her tears.

“I… I… don’t… know…” Pinkie sobbed. Her usual happy curly hair flattened into simple straight hair.

Even Rainbow couldn’t take it. She landed, buried her face in her hooves and cried, saying nothing.

Then an orb of light came into the ruined chambers of the past.

“Twilight!”

“P-Princess Celestia!” Twilight said enough and jumped and hugged at her mentor, like a daughter seeing her mother.

Her mentor embraced the hug and gestured the rest to come. And so they did. All three were together in Celestia’s grasp and under her wings, crying.

“Shsss. Everything is alright… Everything will be alright” Celestia tried to reassure them, not sure how succesfull she was.

They were too sad to say anything…  Just how terrible everything was… and every time they said that, Celestia could not say more than “It will be alright…”

‘I never thought she would mean this…

This is it…

We are …doomed’  Celestia thought stronger by the minute…

***

The archer’s prey was sent…

The prey of knowledge arrived at the mastermind…

The master thanked the messenger and gesture to leave…

And so he did…

What the master saw…

And what the master felt…

And a  sin worth of over 6 billion kills…