Harmony Rising (*DO NOT READ YET*)

Twilight Sparkle yawned as she clopped loudly down the stairs from the second floor of her library, gasping blearily as the early morning sun shone through the open window and into her slightly bloodshot eyes.

“Ughh, so many books to read…I must’ve been up most of the night reading. But hey, at least I’ll be ready for that big test! But these books are so…common! I must’ve read them a million times! If only I had a new one! Maybe some ancient histo-“

She was interrupted by a small, timid knock at the door. Recognizing the sound, she trotted over to it and opened it.

“Morning, Fluttershy.”

But there was no one there, just a simple nondescript book with a brown leather cover with a depiction of Nightmare Moon on it. She picked it up with her magic and began to walk back up towards her bed while reading at the same time.

“In ancient days, the land of Equestria was peaceful and prosperous. But then, five hundred years ago, a dark influence overtook the Princess Minor, Luna, and she transformed into the Queen of the Night, Nightmare Moon…"

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“Princess!”

The white stallion galloped in, his hooves clicking on the rough stones as the fading torchlight reflected off his golden armor. His breath heavy, he approached a throne, melancholy in its misplaced splendor.

“It’s worse than we though. The darkness is spreading. I’m sorry, but your sister may not be coming back. The Eastern Outpost of Seris has fallen and Aurivis is exposed and unprepared. Please, you need to do something! I know she’s precious to you, but some things are inevitable. It all comes down to one question. Which is more important; Equestria? Or your sister?”

A glimmering tear broke its fall upon the base of the throne, the flickering torch barely lighting up the room as a gold-shod white hoof slammed down upon the stones before the ornate seat.

“Enough! I refuse to sit passively by as my own sister destroys my kingdom and slaughters my people! Go now. Take three battalions of the Elite Guard to Aurivis. Make sure that you have at least two platoons of archers and the Third Battalion. Last I checked, they were under the command of Captain Mirror Shard. Make sure to take your own battalion as well.”

The stallion nodded sharply. “And the Eastern Outpost?”

“No need, Commander. I’ll take care of Seris personally.”

The stallion nodded once more and began to gallop out once more, the dying torch finally flickering out, the white alicorn’s horn the only visible source of light in the gloom. Staring out of the dim, ancient castle at the dark forest, she whispered softly to herself.

“You’ve gone too far this time, Luna. Too far.”

Looking down at her golden-shod hooves, instead of reflecting the moon as they should, the cursed sky was reflected, making the horseshoes appear dark. She shuddered as the blackness consumed the night, her great magic making hardly a dent upon the shadows. As the blackness spread, Celestia peered out, but saw no sign of her young sister.