Ever Growing Friendship

Written By: Cloudline Dasher

Edited By: Bytestorm

Chapter Twenty-Three: Return of Nightmare moon

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“C... B... A...” Twilight smiled as she reached the last isle. Just beyond would be the doors, but by now, her way was clearly lit by the torches.

Glancing up on ahead, a blur ran past the large iron double doors, skidding to a halt. A blue mare locked eyes with Twilight, and just simply smiled and giggled. Twilight's eyes went wide as she yelled, “Trixie!?”

The blue magical mare laughed once more, taking off down the halls of Canterlot castle, but not before Twilight noticed the Alicorn amulet once again around her neck. Twilight darted after her yelling, “Trixie! Wait! I can help you, the amulet is clouding your judgment again!”

Trixie merely giggled, which seemed to lightly reverberate against the walls. Trixie turned the corner, taking a right down another hallway. As Twilight neared the corner, she skidded to a halt as another figure cut across her vision. Twilight's heart began to race as the second figure eyed her for a moment, “D-Discord?! But we... you were stone again?”

Discord grinned wickedly, waving to the purple unicorn before taking down the hall to her left. Twilight glanced left and right, unsure who to chase after; Trixie or Discord. Taking a steady breath to calm herself, Twilight reasoned, “I can't stop Discord without the other elements. I'll stop Trixie first...”

Darting down the right hall, Twilight saw the slightest bit of Trixie's tail as she darted down another hall way. Yet another figure stepped out, making Twilight skid to a halt as it blocked her path, “Chrysalis?!”

Twilight flared up her horn in anger, “Tell me! Why are you here?”

The tall black Changling queen merely smiled, running toward Twilight and jumping over her head, running to where Discord had gone. Instead of chasing any of the dangerous villains, Twilight merely plopped herself down, sitting as she stared after the queen in disbelief, “What is this... an alliance to invade? I... I need to find one of the princesses...”

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The sky was darkened, they could picture that Celestia was out lowering the sun, while Luna raised the moon. It wasn't particularly a beautiful night, the Princesses were probably just hurriedly doing their job to prepare for the Canterlot performance. That didn't stop the party from going on, and Octavia didn't mind that. She mentally punished herself for forgetting her own birthday, but that was soon forgotten as somepony shoved a present her way. Glancing up at Lyra, Octavia was greeted with a giggle, “This is from my herd and myself.”

“You really didn't have too.” Octavia smiled softly, but that didn't stop her from pulling the paper from the present. Her smile ebbed away as she eyed the object inside, “U-unicorn essence? Isn't that rather... intimate?”

Trace had questioned his mare what unicorn essence was. Apparently it was a dust form of her magic. Normally, when magic was cast from a horn, it was basically a liquid. However, by using a magical object called a sprites net, you could cast any spell through it and turn the liquid into a dust. Normally the dust was given to a non unicorn lover as an intimate gift to give them a means of protection, or even just a keepsake of themselves.

Lyra just merely giggled as she shook her head, “I thought you would say that, but no. This powder is specifically for your cello. I know you got that cello from your parents before they passed. This magic will renew your cello like new, and you wont have to store it away when it becomes unplayable.”

Pulling the bottle of green essence from the box, Octavia held it delicately against her chest, “Thank you... you don't know what this means to me...”

Trace, and Fluttershy found themselves smiling alongside Lyra, feeling a satisfied accomplishment. The party seemed to go on in full swing, and nothing seemed to get outta hoof, like the majority of Vinyl's wild parties. After awhile, many of the guests left to wherever, leaving Vinyl, Lyra, Octavia, Trace, and Fluttershy.

For the moment, Octavia was chatting with Lyra, that was until Vinyl made herself known by clearing her voice. Lyra took notice and giggled, “I'll let you two have a moment.”

Surprisingly, The musical cellist didn't put up a fuss for her to stay. Tenderly using her hoof, she pulled a stray strand of mane, placing it in its rightful place behind her ear, “Hey, thanks for the party, Vinyl. You really didn't have too...”

“Yeah I did...” Vinyl frowned, her nose lowering in shame to the floor, her forehoof scratching lightly at the tiled flooring of the gym, “Every year I forget your birthday, and every year I'm wasted, throwing up my guts... I'm sober, I remembered, so I threw you a party, like a true friend should...”

As Vinyl's bright red eyes glanced up through her glasses, she noticed the slight frown on Octavia's face. A sudden pit fell in her stomach. She couldn't even bring herself to say anything to the mare. Then Octavia's expression turned sour, and she finally looked up to match Vinyl's gaze. Vinyl suddenly felt the urge to run as Octavia jumped up from her spot, a clear scowl on her face. Sitting down in front of the white party unicorn, Octavia brought up her hooves, making Vinyl flinch in preparation for a punishment she somehow thought she deserved.

Her eyes blinked open as Octavia gently pulled the white mares glasses from the bridge of her nose. Octavia's expression softened for a moment, making Vinyl relax, but her stomach clenched right back up as Octavia scowled once more, “Vinyl!”

“Y-yes?” Was all Vinyl was able to say. Still tempted to run away in fear she had somehow offended her dearest friend, and current crush.

The dark musical Earth pony seemed to avert her eyes for a moment, thinking to herself. As her gaze met Vinyl's she spoke, “I've given it some thought, and I'm willing to give you a chance...”

Vinyl instantly grinned, her ears standing at attention, and her mane seeming to stand on end in the sudden good news. The excitement faded as Octavia continued, except much louder, and much more fearful, “But I'll tell you this once! Mess up, and I swear I'll kick you to the curb so fast, you'll forget how to scratch vinyl! I've already told you I didn't want to give you a chance, so if you screw this up...”

At first Octavia seemed to almost tear up, and Vinyl could literally feel the fear radiating off her friend. By now, thanks to Octavia's loud and almost shouting voice, Trace and his herd were watching from the side lines. Turning her attention from her friend Lyra, Vinyl turned her full attention back to Octavia, almost ready to tear up herself, “Oh Tavi! I promise, I wont let you down!”

“Y-you better not...” The dark mare grinned, playfully punching her rowdy friend. Vinyl merely chuckled as she took the blow in good sport.

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By now, the moon had been raised high in the sky. Most likely meaning Celestia was off to bed, while her sister Luna watched over the night. It came as a rather large surprise as the doors to her tower slammed open. There stood an out of breath, and disheveled, Twilight Sparkle. Luna looked to the first pony she had came to call friend since her reconciliation as Nightmare moon, “Twilight Sparkle! Art thou okay?”

However, Twilight didn't move. Furthermore, Luna looked upon the purple unicorn's head to notice the Element of Friendship. Glancing at the saddlebag at Twilight's side, Luna's heart jumped into her throat, “T-twilight, that book... where did you get it?”

Twilight blinked rapidly, her vision swirling to focus on the dark princess. As her vision steadied, her eyes widened at what, or rather whom she saw, “N-Nightmare moon!”

Luna's ears flickered, unsure if she heard correctly, “T-twilight? Are you feeling, well?”

Celestia's pupil's horn illuminated a lavender, before spewing white in streaks. Thanks to Luna's heightened sense and speed as an Alicorn, she only barely managed to dodge as a bolt hurtled from Twilight's horn, shooting past her and leaving a chunk missing in the floor. Luna elegantly landed, her hooves touching down, before she pleaded to her possibly dearest friend, “Twilight! Snap out of it! It's me, Luna!”

But all Twilight managed to hear was, “Twilight, what a fearful surprise! Come to finish me off?”

The purple unicorn hissed, standing in a battle pose, “Luna! You were good again, why would you turn back into Nightmare moon?”

Shaking her head, Luna frowned, “Dearest Twilight, you are under the effects of a spell trap! The same I was a thousand years ago!”

Once again Twilight's ears fooled her otherwise. Nightmare moon's booming and rather electrifying voice convincing her what her eyes were telling her, “I shall overthrow Celestia, and finish what I started a thousand years ago!”

“NO!” Twilight screamed, darting forward, tackling the princess to her back.

Luna barely even squirmed as she glanced up to Twilight, “Prithee, Twilight! Do not do this! I am Luna, friendly and good! You taught me the meaning of friendship, dost thou not remember?”

Being at close range, Twilight's gaze faltered, and it forced her to clench her eyes closed. Only hearing partially of Luna's words. Her mind catching up and fooling her once more as Nightmare moon spoke, “Do it! Kill the unholy queen of the night! You don't have the marehood!”

Guards outside the door could be heard gathering, and all fell faint as hoofsteps calmly stepped toward the tower doors. Apparently, Twilight's initial blast alerted the guards, and their first action was to awaken their goddess; Celestia. At first Celestia thought an outside intruder had returned and attacked Luna for being weaker of the two. As she stood their, her eyes widened in disbelief, “T-Twilight?”

Twilight's ears flickered, and she couldn't help but raise her head, “Princess! Luna's reverted back into Nightmare moon!”

The confused little unicorn's eyes swirled once more, her forehoof pressed on Luna's throat and keeping her pinned against the floor. To be honest, Luna could push her off, but she refused to harm her dearest friend. The first and only pony to give her a chance, right from the get go. Other than her sister, of course. Luna gasped as she pleaded to her sister, “Prithee.... Cough... Twilight is cursed... the same curse that overtook me a thous... thousand years ago!”

“Twilight... my dearest and most faithful student... Please let my sister go...” Celestia stated in the calmest and motherly tone she could manage. Twilight of course didn't budge. Closing her eyes, Celestia tried to calm her heart. She had lost her sister once, and she feared of losing her pupil. Holding back her fear, and the tears welling up inside of her, she remained calm, “Twilight...”

Yet again barely any response, other than her ears twitching. Twilight frowned as she growled, “We were nothing but friends to Luna... How can she turn evil?”

“Same as you now, my young student...” Celestia softly spoke, sitting down as to not agitate her student, “look to me, Twilight.”

Hesitantly doing as she was told, there stood the princess, her teacher, looking to her lovingly. Celestia smiled, instantly calming the mare, but not enough to make her move from pinning Luna, “Listen to me now... You are cursed, the crown apparently didn't protect you. Just look at yourself...”

Using her magic, a large vanity wall mirror levitated from the wall, and hung loosely at Twilight's side in a yellow aura. Glancing over, Twilight was instantly met with her reflection. Her eyes were slightly puffy and misted over. Bags remained under her eyes, and her heart could be seen in her chest beating away at an unhealthily fast rate. Then her eyes glanced downward to Nightmare moon's reflection. It was Luna, and not Nightmare moon. The sudden awareness made her eyes dart back down to the pony pinned under her and once again was met with the unsettling image of Nightmare moon.

“Image foolery spells... Cannot be double cast into a mirror...” Twilight murmured to herself, jumping backward and off of Luna, tripping and falling to her rump.

The sun goddess smiled at her accomplishment, stepping cautiously over to her student, “I now believe I know what happened with Nightmare moon...”

“Y-yes... Cough... I too sister believe I know what happened...” Luna shamefully admitted, pushing herself up into a sitting position. Her hoof rubbing tenderly at her possibly bruised throat, “but... I do believe it isn't as strong as it was with me...”

Nodding, Celestia was quick to believe, “The Element of Harmony... It must have mostly protected you from the full force of the spell. I--”

Interrupting her teacher, Twilight took it upon herself to explain, pretty sure she had it figured out herself, “A massive imagery spell, to all of Equestria she was seen as Nightmare moon, but for Luna, she saw all of Equestria as vile villains. To her, she was doing what she thought was right in trying to save Equestria, but to Equestria, she looked as if she was trying to bring on eternal night.”

“So she was never actually evil...” Celestia muttered in slight hope that Luna was not capable of evil, but also in slight fear that she had banished her sister over a mere Image spell, even if it was a powerful one.

“Yes sister... It all seems like a dream now, but I am starting to remember...” Luna admitted, shame apparent on her face.

Tears dropped from her face as Twilight pleaded to her mentor, “P-Please... fix me... it's like living in a nightmare, inside a real nightmare I cannot awake from...”

“The Elements of Harmony have a reset when all are present...” Celestia mumbled to herself, but made sure Twilight and her sister could hear.

“Sister?” Luna questioned, hope building in her chest.

“It is a defense mechanism for the bearers of Harmony. When one is cast under a spell, or even poisoned or injured, it is possible to use all the Elements to reset their bodies. It would flood out any magic, and/or poison in their systems.” Celestia stated as she tapped her chin. The white princess's expression turned stern as she acknowledge her student, “Twilight, where are the Elements, now?”

“I thought it best to keep them in one place... they're in my old room in the castle...” Twilight manage to say, clenching her eyes closed in fear of looking at Luna as Nightmare moon.

Author's Note

I've had the last three chapters done, but if nopony doesn't mind them being unedited, I'll keep posting them and just update when they are.

As for the storyline, I do have to say I regret the Law bit, but it seemed necessary at the time. Now however, I believe that Twilight's little mishap with the book, and what's to come with the content in it would have done nicely, and much better than the law. However, I'll make sure to bring it all to a close before I end the story.

Plus I'm sorry that this chapter was so much shorter, but I thought it was appropriate that I ended this chapter where I had.