Lunar Legacy

Midnight Star slowly opened his eyes to the light of the sun, fading on the west horizon. The window behind his headboard let the sun in at sunset, so that he would wake up and get ready for work. He lived in a home shaped from clouds, a modest abode but it served its purpose. It was located south of Sugarcube Corner, a favorite treat shop of the entire town. Being a Pegasus, and living on a cloud; the majority of Ponyville could not come even to his front door, as only Pegasi can walk on clouds.

His neighbors included Ponyville Hospital, and Ponyville Retirement Home. But down the street a short ways lived Hawk, a genius when it came to crazy mechanisms. Midnight Start didn’t have many friends, and most days were simply the routine. Wake up, eat, work, eat, and sleep. His coat was Midnight Blue and his mane was Cyan with a white stripe down the center and his tail was the same.

It was the night of the Summer Sun celebration. Though it was not a celebration for him, because everyone else had forgotten the origins of the celebration after 1000 years. But he still remembered; he still knew that it was his ancestor, Moonlight Gleam who paid the greatest price so that the sun would rise again. Even the princess herself had forgotten them. Midnight Star didn’t have work today, so he decided that he was going to go see Serenity, one of his only friends.

He walked over to the edge of his cloud and jumped straight off the edge, flying downward in a nosedive he waited until the last moment then he opened his wings and pulled up; putting the momentum of the fall directly into his speed, leaving a trail of White and Cyan behind him as he flew through town.

He lived on the southwest side of town, and the cottage where Serenity lived was on the south-east end of town. It was a rural community out where she lived, everyone living in similarly designed cottages, but with their own variations. He zoomed east, flying past Carousel Boutique; just past there was the start of Cottage street. He landed at Serenity’s house and knocked on the door. The lights were still on, so she should still be home.

Serenity opened the door “Why, Hello Midnight” she said cheerfully with a smile “I was just about to head over to the Library for this big party Pinkie is hosting, did you want to come?” She meant Pinkie Pie, the craziest pony in the whole town. Midnight and Pinkie weren’t really friends, though she would tell you different.

“No thanks, I don’t really know anypony, and I’m not the partying sort.” Midnight said, hoping she would insist.

“Well, if you say so. But you’re always welcome to come. Everyone is invited at a Pinkie Pie Party.” She said with a smile as she stepped out the door. “I guess I’ll see you around, maybe we’ll run into each other during the morning festivities” she said as she walked away.

He meant what he said, he really wasn’t the partying sort of pony, but he was hoping Serenity would want him to go with her. He stated walking down the street in the opposite direction, wondering what he should do until the morning sunrise at town hall. He took off, straight up into the air; up above the clouds. He laid back in the clouds, looking up at the moon. He closed his eyes and dozed off.

He woke up to somepony nudging him. “Wake up, it’s time for the sunrise, you don’t want to miss it” It was Flitter; she was probably clearing the clouds when she found him napping up there.

“All right all right. I’m going.” Midnight replied, and dove backwards out of the clouds, without even getting up. He slowed down to a gentle landing in front of town hall. He stepping inside to a crowd of ponies, so he decided he would watch from the air, where it was less crowded. He flew up to the rafters and landed quietly on one, he decided he would watch from above, as was his habit.

More ponies streamed inside, packing town hall to the brim. He noticed Pinkie Pie walking in with some Unicorn he hadn’t seen around before. The bird chorus began a regal tune as the mayor stepped forward into a spotlight.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!” the mayor announced “In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this; the longest day of the year!” she continued after a brief pause. “and now it is my great honor, the ruler of our land; the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day. The good, the Wise; the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria, Princess Celestia!” the mayor announced as the spotlight moved upward and the curtain on the balcony was pulled back and the chorus began another tune. Shock filled the room, for their princess was nowhere in sight.

Midnight Star scanned the room, but there were no signs of anything having gone wrong.

“Remain calm everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation” the mayor said, barely holding her calm. He could hear Pinkie Pie saying something, but he paid her no mind.

“She’s Gone!” a white unicorn announced from the balcony. It was then that purple smoke began to form on the balcony where the princess was supposed to be. The smoke grew in size until it formed into a pitch-black Alicorn whose mane and tail were the very smoke she had formed from.

“Oh my beloved subjects, it’s been so long since I’ve seen your precious little sun-loving faces.” she spoke coldly.

“What did you do with our princess?” The Pegasus called Rainbow Dash shouted at her, with only another pony holding on to her tail stopping her from attacking the Dark Alicorn. He knew Rainbow Dash from the meetings held between weather pony captains. He was captain of the night weather team, she was captain of the day.

The dark Alicorn laughed “Why? Am I not Royal enough for you? Don’t you know who I am?” There was some more chatter from Pinkie Pie, but once again he ignored her. “Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?” she boasted

“I did! And I know who you are!” interjected the unicorn that entered with Pinkie Pie. “You’re the Mare in the Moon, Nightmare Moon!” Gasps filled the crowd but only Midnight truly knew what this meant. It was his ancestor who gave her life that this evil might never return to Equestria.

“Well well well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I am here.” The dark Alicorn boasted from the balcony. She bellowed a dark laugh then continued. “Remember this day little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!” she bellowed and began a dark, sinister laugh as her smoky mane and tail swirled together into the ceiling and calling forth bolts of lightning. Midnight Star was knocked backwards and out of the window.

He recovered just in time to see the smoke flying away towards the everfree forest. He took to the skies but quickly saw that the smoke was much faster than him so he gave up on following it for now. He turned to look for the unicorn that knew Nightmare Moon and saw her running out of town hall. He decided to follow her discreetly for now; he couldn’t get them any more involved than they already were. They were no fighters, and would stand no chance against Nightmare Moon if it came to that.

He followed her back to the Library and landed quietly on one of the windows in the main room. He saw the unicorn instead and cracked the window slightly so he could hear what she was saying. She was saying something about the “Elements of Harmony” He knew what those were, they were what Princess Celestia used to seal Nightmare Moon away a thousand years ago. She was poring through books, trying to find something specific when Rainbow Dash burst inside and started questioning her. She was quickly retrained by the earth pony from before however, and the unicorn was allowed to continue.

“I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon, some mysterious things known as the elements of harmony are the only things that can stop her. But I don’t know what they are; where to find them, I don’t even know what they do!” the unicorn explained.

“The elements of harmony: A reference guide” chimed Pinkie Pie in the corner, the unicorn pushed her out of the way to look at the book.

“How did you find that?!” the unicorn asked

Pinkie Pie pronked around the room, and chimed “It was under Eeeeeeeee”

“Oh.” The unicorn said, exasperated.

The unicorn removed the book from the shelf and began to read “There are 6 elements of Harmony, but only 5 are known. Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The 6th is a complete mystery. It is said the last known location of the 5 elements, was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now the Everfree Forest.”

He should have known, that explains where Nightmare Moon was headed in such a hurry. He had to get there first, before these ponies got themselves hurt.