The Tragedy of Twilight Sparkle

by forgotten5p1rit

Chapters

Read Please
Chapter 1 - The War (Part 1)
Chapter 1 - The War (Part 2)
Chapter 2 - The Words
Chapter 3 - The Tragedy of Night Mare Moon
Chapter 4 - The New Moon
Chapter 5 - A Fresh Start (WIP)
Chapter 6 - Twilight's Uncertainty

Read Please

[---- [] Disclaimer [] ----]

::--:Here is some information about this story:--::

Hi there everypony, I’m forgotten5p1rit and this is my 1st story.

This is derived from the famous play “The Tragedy of Macbeth” By William Shakespeare

The idea of creating this however, was not. Here is where this idea came to form.

This all started with the story “Cheerilee’s Garden” (Gore), there was a play in that in which the class of Cheerilee had to perform to an audience, I was reading that play (which was about 10 pages, I don’t know, that is somehow the number I remember…) while talking to a pegasister in my school on facebook. I said these exact words (First I groaned because it was 48 pages then said that My Little Dashie was shorter than this, she then replied with “It’s not that long, it only took me 15 minutes”) “I’m just skimming, wana see the goods bits…8 pages for a play, good god, somepony would probably make a parody of Macbeth...for god sake…” and she responded with something I cannot remember but that is not important because as soon as I typed those words and hit the “enter” key, the idea formed in my mind (I mentioned Macbeth because in school, we were learning Shakespeare and our English teacher chose Macbeth), I spent a few days planning it and, well, here it is! I hope you all enjoy and I hope you are reading this before you read on.

Before you read however, I must warn you that this is all typed in the English language we use today, none of the Shakespeare words, the format is different from the original play (By this I mean nothing like Scene 1 Act 1 ect ect) as well, so this might be a little different for those who have already known the play “Macbeth” in any form what so ever. And some parts of the play are cut out, some characters missing too. So for those filly and gentlecolts expecting that this story will be like the original play, I am sorry to say that this is not the case for I am only in year 9 and writing the play in the Shakespearian language is simply beyond my knowledge at this point in time. Sorry for any inconvenience. By the way, I do understand that Twilight has become a princess, I guess I wrote this fan fic a little too late, but I am still continuing this, so this is just Twilight, not in princess form.

And yea, that is really all I have to say about this story, I hope you all sincerely enjoy it and if you do, please tell me by leaving some feedback in the comments section, if you don't like it, give me some constrctive criticism as to why it is bad and what I cam make it more enjoyable for you. If you have anything you want me to change (spelling errors or incorrect transcription), please let me know.

Brony on everypony,

~5p1rit

Chapter 1 - The War (Part 1)

---[ The Tragedy of Twilight Sparkle ]---

By: forgotten5p1rit

Twilight scanned her surroundings for her arch enemy amongst the hundreds of ponies in motion.

“You WILL die today.” Twilight thought as her eyes continuously scanned the field for a hint of light blue.

When you are trying to see somepony in a field of bloody, bruised and dead poines defending their honor and role in battle, one does not simply see a hint of light blue even though the uniforms of the two sides where decorated elaborately with colors far from light blue, it was only her enemy’s side that was in DARK blue. She shook her head to clear the haze that seemed to settle in her mind. Snorting in frustration, she closed her eyes acknowledging the risk but paid no heed to it. She tilted her head up and thought about this wretched war, how it came to be but the constant yelling of war horses below her combined with the bouts of heat waves from the sun generating endless amounts of haze in her mind proved that thinking during war can be very difficult. Twilight then heard a warning cry that forced her eyes to snap open.

“Watch out!!” It warned.

Twilight did not know who the colt seemed to refer to but she didn’t care, this is war. Yelling a statement followed by a sentence? Ain’t no pony got time for that! Her eyes snapped open to see an arrow nearing the end of its trajectory. Right on her face. Twilight rolled sideways as quick as lightning, but the attempt to escape uninjured was too late, the razor sharp tip of the arrowhead tore apart a long gash expanding on her cheek before thudding on the hoof worn dirt behind her. Wincing at the pain the arrow had caused, she first put a hoof on the gash. Blood was pouring from it, she then looked up eyes alert for the pony responsible for the attempted snipe, her eyes darted left and right until she saw a light blue body and mane, a cape, holding a bow, the enemy she wanted to kill the last time that pony came and wrecked their lives for a short period of time. The light blue body and mane of Trixie.

Trixie caught the snarling, angry face of Twilight, lowering her bow, she responded with an evil smile, shutting her eyes and screwing up her face into a concentrated look, Trixie disappeared for a fraction of a second only to appear right next to the injured Twilight.

“Well, well, well.” Trixie tisked, “Looke what we have here.”

“Trixie.” Twilight snarled in a dangerous tone through clenched teeth.

“I thought you’re battle school would have taught you to not be stupid during war did it not?” Trixie insulted, the cocky side of her personality returning once again.

“I thought that the last time I belted that fat, light blue flank of yours, your cocky personality would have disappeared did it not?” Twilight retorted beginning to stand on 3 hooves, leaving one still holding her wounded cheek.

Trixie’s face tensed. “That shut her up” Twilight thought, self-consciously. Twilight allowed a smile to spread across her face.

“I would watch that tongue of yours Twi.” Trixie warned with a glare, her horn glistened pink to unsheathe her broadsword. Twilight, seeing an obvious potential threat to her life, dropped the hoof she was using to protect her injured cheek and also used her magic to unsheathe her sword

“Likewise…” Twilight responded but without a single chance to say anything else, Trixie pounced on Twilight and before Twilight knew it, she was sprawled on the ground, pinned down and disarmed by an equally surprised Trixie.

“What was that?” Trixie mocked with a slight tone of disappointment. “Was that meant to be a sword fight? So… let’s gather our facts… you failed to excel in Magic school AND battle school? Typical!”

Trixie saw Twilight’s attempt to teleport away and she simply whacked her horn, Twilight winced.

“Awwww what’s wrong?” Trixie asked sarcastically. “Did poor, poor Twily get hurt? Awww.”

Trixie heard a whistling sound behind her; she turned her head to see an arrow heading straight for her.

“Oh for Celestia’s sake!” she groaned.

Without thinking, Trixie jumped from Twilight’s body to not only be just in time to witness the whizzing sound of the arrow as it zoomed past her but to also free her opponent. Twilight saw a chance to flee and thus, teleported upright acquiring her sword whilst doing so. Trixie, seeing the tragic outcome of events, tried to cover her surprise by saying;

“Well, since I am so nice,” Trixie began grandly, “The Great and Powerful Trixie will give you once chance, but only this ONE chance.”

“Did you also say that when you tried to lose weight?” Twilight asked, a grin spreading across her face.

Trixie, clearly outsmarted, lunged at Twilight, expecting her to be on the ground by now, but Twilight not only remembered this dirty little trick like the back of her hoof, she also knew how to counter react this. Twilight simply raised her sword to the air on a 45 degree angle.

The two swords met with a violent *KASHING*. Twilight forced her sword towards Trixie which almost made Trixie lose her stability as she staggered backwards. When Trixie regained her composure, Twilight’s turn was up. She started her move with a simple sword swing that was defended easily by her blue opponent, Twilight then punched Trixie in the stomach with her empty hoof, Twilight looked happy with the damage she inflicted on her opponent…or she thought.

Trixie was a good actress, she pretended that the punch had wounded her severely, she coughed a few times and started to deeply inhale large gulps of breath like he was really injured, but she was merely counting the seconds going by before she made her sudden move. Twilight looked at the seemingly helpless Trixie, as Twilight’s sword began to lower, Trixie made her sudden move and before Twilight even knew it, she was desperately defending her life from Trixie’s sword swings as they relentlessly struck down. “One mistake and I am gone.” thought the desperate Twilight.

For every deflection Twilight made against Trixie’s sword swings, she took one step back. Twilight soon realized that she can only take so many steps backwards before she fell off the ledge that was supporting the two of them, and if not die by the fall damage, then by Trixie’s sword or arrow. Becoming paranoid, Twilight tried to take the offensive side by blocking Trixie’s last swing with a forced parry from her, they met faces for a fraction of a second before Trixie reacted faster than Twilight by kicking her back. Twilight, disarmed and trapped, waited for her doom by Trixie’s blade.

Trixie looking triumphant, raised her sword high in the air, going for the killing strike, Twilight’s only hope now was that she disabled the magical, pink aura of Trixie’s horn, she looked around desperately for something heavy or sharp enough that will interrupt the magical field of a unicorn’s horn, and that was when luck held her tight. The arrow that Trixie had shot previously was still embedded on the hard earthen floor about two meters away from her. Twilight knew that if she attempted to reach for the arrow with her magic, Trixie will immediately stop her, she must find a way for her to become distracted, maybe she will ask her for last words so she could-

“Any last requests before I…” Trixie pretended to think of a word before saying “DISPOSE of you?” Trixie giggled in delight of those three words, the sword still airborne aiming at Twilight’s forehead.

Twilight’s chance! She had to take this, possibly, lifesaving chance.

“Tell me your life story.” Twilight simply said.

“What?” Trixie exclaimed totally surprised that she would ask her such a request.

“Tell me your life story.” Twilight repeated.

“My life has nothing to do with you.” Trixie snapped, “I shall not give you such knowledge.”

“But you said if I had any last requests and that is my request.” Twilight pushed on.

Trixie, dumbfounded, gradually said, “Well, since this is your doomsday, I guess there isn’t any harm in telling you my life story. Well, I’ll start with me in my fillyhood years.”

Trixie coughed and began her life story. Twilight pretended to be sucked in, but she was actually awaiting Trixie to be distracted for even a few seconds.

Trixie’s eyes remained mentally interlocked with Twilight’s eyes as she gave a speech of her life story, only breaking the constant eye contact due to blinking and simply looking away for a fraction of a second. “Come on, talk about stars or something for Celestia’s sake!” Twilight thought urgently, she knew that sometimes Unicorn magic can “skip” a beat and they will lose contact with the item that they are holding for a second, the unicorn can magically “catch” it by re-summoning the levitation spell but only unicorns with a fast reaction can be able to manage this.

Twilight knew nothing of Trixie’s reaction time, so assuming the worst; Twilight would need the time quick or it’s lights out for her. But as desperate as she is now, Twilight knew that if she suddenly asked the question, Trixie will suspect an attempted distraction and she will be killed for sure. Twilight pushed her thoughts aside just in time to hear her ticket to a question that might save her life.

“-And so I asked Ms. Blossom ‘How can you tell one star from another?’ THAT was when she came up with the full hour explanation of the stars and-”

“So how CAN you tell one star from another?” Twilight asked as innocently as she could.

Trixie raised an eyebrow at her prey.

“Are you serious Twi?” Trixie asked blandly, “Can you really not tell? The difference between two-“

“No, no I can!” Twilight exclaimed, “It’s just that…h-how did your teacher explain it to you?”

Twilight was glad of a few things, she not only removed Trixie’s raised eyebrow and perhaps her suspicions, but she thought of a good excuse, “Being an egg- well-read isn’t so bad is it Dash?” She thought self-consciously.

“Oh, well THAT was different!” Trixie started, “She said that it all comes down to the center point star.” Trixie looked up. “Uh….” She raised a hoof to her chin and appeared to be in thought.

Twilight thought this chance would never have come; she quietly levitated the arrow from the earth. It proved to be difficult as Trixie seemed to have placed a lot of power onto that bow. Eventually, she managed to free the arrow from the earth and pointed the tip of the arrow towards her target, the glowing horn of Trixie. She drew the arrow back a bit to gather some momentum in power, finally thinking that the amount of space between the arrow tip and the horn was enough, she pulled it towards the horn.

“AAARRGGH!!!” Trixie screamed and fell on top of Twilight as the razor sharp tip of the arrow dug into her mystical horn, the magical aura surrounding her horn and sword dispersed, and with no force to support the heavy broadsword…

…it dropped…

Chapter 1 - The War (Part 2)

…right on a few strands of Twilight’s, mostly, purple mane. She was repeating the same 3 words over and over in her mind when she was drawing back the arrow. “Hear cry. Roll.” Twilight stood up on all fours and looked beside her to see the pain ridden body of Trixie, her eyes were closed and also in tears because of the excruciating pain the arrow had produced. Grabbing Trixie’s bow that she dropped and the quiver that was present on her back, Twilight knocked an arrow, aimed it towards Trixie’s head and with a dangerous voice, she said;

“Hey Trixie.”

Trixie opened her tear stained eyes at the recognition of her name and looked around for the source of the sound that was when she caught the dangerous, non-sympathetic look of Twilight Sparkle.

“What’s your favorite brand of bottle water?”

Trixie gasped as she knew what was going to happen next and tried everything to avoid it, she tried to wriggle away, but that only cause her more pain as Twilight forced one hoof on her chest. The grip was like an anvil for Trixie’s body, she was fastened in place. Trixie’s horn was now useless, if she tried to teleport, she might as well perform the impossible. Twilight was staring at Trixie with cold, unforgiving eyes, she pulled back the arrow a little further and continued;

“Mine’s Arrow Head.” She fired the bow.

Blood spurted from the puncture the arrow had caused, spraying Trixie’s now lifeless body as well as Twilight’s, the force of Twilight’s shot contained so much momentum that the arrow completely shot right through Trixie’s skull and even dove into the earth supporting them. Twilight, wiping away the blood from her eye, dropped the bow to the ground that landed with several wooded clunks, picked up her sword several meters away from when Trixie had disarmed her and slowly trotted back to the deathbed of Trixie. She stood above the lifeless face of her, held her sword high and forced it down upon Trixie’s throat, sliding down her spine the sword unable to break it, blood oozed from the laceration forming a puddle in merely no time at all.

She maneuvered the sword so it dug deeper into Trixie’s flesh, leaving Trixie’s body covered with her own blood in to time at all; at last, there was nothing more to cut leaving Twilight with the spine and a small amount of flesh behind it. Wiping her eyes for the second time, she threw the sword to one side and raised one of her front hooves, Twilight closed her eyes and forced her hoof down with as much power as she could muster, as she stepped on the spine connecting Trixie’s head and body that was when she heard a *CRACK* that signaled the breaking of Trixie’s spine followed by an expediential amount of blood spray over her hoof and body. The spine stood no chance with the force of the step and neither did the small strips of flesh that was behind it, simply outmatched, Trixie’s head was dismembered from her body.

Twilight tilted the head so the flesh pointed upwards blood still gushing from the open wound, grabbed her sword lying a meter away from her, raised it high in the air and forced it into Trixie’s lifeless head. Twilight closed her eyes before she stabbed the sword to avoid the waves of blood being squeezed from the new puncture. She then held the sword with Trixie’s head on it up high, stood on the ledge and yelled;

“TRIXIE HAS BEEN KILLED!!” Twilight’s voice tore through the battle cried and concentration of the warriors she was speaking to, her voice was amplified using her magic, she ignored the dripping of Trixie’s blood onto her mane and hooves. She caught sight of the blood trickling down her hooves and thought “Rarity will scream at me is she saw me in this state.” The fighting immediately ceased as soon as Twilight yelled her message. Everypony looked towards Twilight who was brandishing her Trixie’s-head-on-a-sword.

“TRIXIE HAS BEEN KILLED!!” Twilight repeated, “For all ponies who take the side of your ‘Great and Powerful Trixie’, flee now while I still have the leniency to allow you to live!”

Everypony on the opposing side of Twilight dropped whatever they were holding and galloped away as fast as they could while the ponies on Twilight’s side cheered for victory. With the constant dripping of flood from Trixie’s head began to annoy Twilight, she removed the head from the tip of the sword and placed it in a foldable pouch she was carrying with her, she then drew her bow and scanned the scene below her for any foolish ponies from Trixie’s side who have still not fled. The battleground itself was not to pretty of a sight, fatalities from both sides were clearly visible for blood ridden capes and armor where sprinkled around the field blood stained ponies who were walking back towards Celestia’s castle, bloody weapons and shields, parts of ponies from both sides and what was clearly visible form Twilight’s point of view, blood stains upon the field. That was when she spotted a stallion, clearly injured due to limping, trying to keep up with the rest of the pack.

“No excuses.” whispered Twilight.

She drew an arrow from the quiver, knocked the arrow and aimed while muttering to herself, calculating the trajectory she needs the arrow to go. For a minute or two, she mumbled indecipherable words before at last, seemingly happy with her calculations, fired the arrow. Twilight watched the arrow sail off into the horizon and hopefully kill the pony that was limping away for his life. The arrow began to dive down and at last, it struck the unfortunate pony’s unprotected back section of its helmet. The arrow entered its skull and out again in one smooth movement before thudding into the ground, the force behind the arrow was so strong that the stallion was lifted from his hooves becoming airborne for a second or two before skidding onto the ground until he came to a halt, lifeless blood forming in a puddle around his life void face.

Twilight took a brief nod acknowledging her word. The field was almost empty as ponies who were alive started to walk back to the castle. Twilight heard voices below her yelling something undecipherable, she looked down to see her five best friends forever waving at her. Twilight flapped her arms about to signal Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to catch her. Twilight jumped off the ledge that she was standing on, taking her saddle bag containing Trixie’s head in it, the two pegasi caught her before she came in contact with the ground. The six best friends forever all group hugged one another before slowly walking back to Celestia’s castle, Rainbow Dash started the conversation.

“Good shot Twilight!” She exclaimed, excited by the war.

“You rock!” Fluttershy cheered in her voice to her right. “Woo-hoo!”

“That was a great job ya did there Twi!” Applejack praised, “You really showed her who’s really in charge.”

“GREAT JOB TWILIGHT!!” Pinkie shouted pushing her party cannon along with them.

“Darling, that was marvelous…” Rarity started but seeing the state that Twilight was in made her mouth dry, she still managed to let out, “B-but your m-mane…”

Twilight grinned at Rarity’s facial expression; “Knowing her” Twilight thought “She is probably thinking about solutions to remove the blood or something similar of the sorts.”

“How did you guys go?” Twilight questioned looking left and right.

“I tells ya, that was some war!” Applejack exclaimed. “Whoo-wee! These ol’ kickers can only buck so many times before they hit the hay!” Twilight looked at Applejacks legs to find them bloodstained from her hooves to her thighs.

“Fluttershy needs to TRAIN on her hind legs,” Rainbow Dash sighed while being airborne. “She can’t even kick a thunder cloud hard enough to produce a lightning bolt.”

Fluttershy opened her mouth to object to that statement.

“One that can ACTUALLY shock and KILL opponents.” Rainbow Dash continued taking notice of Fluttershy’s attempt to object.

Twilight assumed that Fluttershy indeed produced a lightning bolt, just not one that actually KILLED an opponent.

“Applejack?” Rainbow Dash called.

“Mhm?” Applejack responded.

“Do you think you would train Fluttershy’s hind legs so you can put a bit of muscle on them?” Dash asked.

“When we have some free time,” Applejack replied “I’ll give it the best I’hve got, maybe after this war, she could even help out a bit on the farm.” Applejack turned to Fluttershy. “D’you think you could Flutters?” she asked.

“Well um...” Fluttershy began timidly “I-I can try, I guess.”

“Oh my gosh!” Pinkie exclaimed out of a sudden. “I knew that was going to be crazy, but not THIS crazy, I mean my party cannon is almost EXHAUSTED and what would I do to cheer ponies up when my cannon breaks? Swords and shields? *pfft* BOOOORRIING!!”

“Darling, you do realize that you kill a few ponies every time you fire that outrageous cannon of yours,” Rarity stopped to give the cannon a quick disgusted look before turning back to Pinkie and finishing “…do you?” She questioned.

“Well of COURSE I know that Rarity!” Pinkie argues “And I have a perfectly good reason for that as well, see, all the ponies where crowding around this one injured pony, and all the surrounding ponies where being meany jerks to him, he could NOT do anything as he was visibly injured so I simply HAD to do SOMETHING to those meany pants or else they would not have ceased the torments! So I just yelled a warning for them to stop, and…they just CHARGED at me! And of course, I HAD to defend myself and so I just fired my cannon to make them happy, they looked like they were really grumpy all the time and-”

“Whoa, wait a second!” Twilight exclaimed, stopping. All of her friends stopped with her, Twilight waited for Pinkie to close her mouth. As soon as Twilight opened HER mouth to speak, Pinkie cut her off.

“-I just wanted to make them happy! I didn’t realize that it would KILL them, maybe they die in happiness, but-”

“Pinkie!” Twilight shouted.

“What?” Pinkie questioned.

“I said wait!” Twilight stated.

“I know! For a second, I waited for a second.”

Twilight, bewildered, took a few seconds to realize what Pinkie just said. Finally seeing the “Pinkie” logic behind it, she performed a facehoof.

“No, that’s not what I meant!” Twilight said. “’Wait a second’ is a figure of speech!”

“How can speech be a figure?” Pinkie questioned befuddled. “Can you feel speeches?”

“*sigh* just forget about it, my question was who WERE the ponies you killed?”

“Hm…” Pinkie said puzzled at the question “I don’t know what they looked like but they were wearing light bluishy capes…in fact…” Pinkie looked towards Twilight and pointed towards her head sack. “Pretty close to the blue on Trixie’s mane though a lot, lot, LOT darker!”

Twilight heaved a sigh in relief. Killing your own ponies in was penalty with a death sentence. No exceptions, no negotiations, no excuses, she did not want Pinkie to be executed.

“Pinkie,” Twilight began “Do you know what will happen if somepony witnessed you kill your own ponies during war? Do you understand the consequences that follow?”

“I’m not too sure.” Pinkie said with a quizzical look on her brow, “But I’m sure that whatever happens, it’s not worse than death!” she finished with her optimism returning.

Twilight started walking, shaking her head at Pinkie.

“Well actually, the penalty IS death!” Twilight said bluntly.

“Aww well THAT’S a bit mean!” Pinkie cried in dismay, “What happens if it is an accident?!”

“Well that is understandable,” Twilight explained, “But the circumstance I am talking about is when somepony actually witnesses you killing somepony deliberately, the punishment is then head decapitation. I’m just warning you to be careful with that cannon, one day, you may kill somepony by accident, and when that day comes, you will be in trouble, or worse, dead.”

Twilight heard a voice. Something beckoning her to the woods to her left, she cannot recognize what this strange and mystical force attracting her is but it was there and she was growing in curiosity.

Chapter 2 - The Words

“Uh…Hey guys why don’t you all go back while I check out something here.”

“Darling,” Rarity piped up, “The sun is nearly setting, are you sure you would want to be out at night?”

“She’s right ya know Twi,” Applejack contributed, “Ya’ll never know whats hidin’ in them bushes at night.” Applejack finished her sentence by giving the forest to their left a nervous glance.

“What is it that you need to look at SOOOOOO badly Twilight?” Pinkie questioned.

“I heard a rustling sound in the tree’s that is sort of attracting my horn.” Twilight said “For all I know, it could be another enemy.”

“Well enemy or not, I’m coming with you.” Rainbow Dash said fiercely.

“Aww come on Rainbow,” Twilight begged, “You really don’t have to come with me you know.”

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash argued, sounding offended by Twilight’s remark. “I don’t have a personality of Loyalty just to have somepony say that she doesn’t need it, I am who I am so I’m coming along, besides, when we are done, I can simply fly us home!”

Twilight considered the facts, they all made sense especially the fly home, she wasn’t going to walk back there, hell no! Besides, she could use a friend’s guidance, especially if they are a Pegasus, assuming that bad luck strikes her, she may not find anything, lose their path and probably be lost in those dark gloomy woods. But if she has Rainbow Dash, the two of them may locate their way back quicker.

“You’re right Dash.” Twilight agreed “You guys can head back, tell the Princess what we are doing.”

“You got it!” AppleJack replied shortly “We’ll be off, come on girls, let’s get goin’!”

The trio all help push the deadly party cannon along with them as they galloped off to the direction of Celestia’s castle, watching them gallop off the hill, Twilight simply said;

“Ok, let’s see what’s in here.”

They cautiously inspected the area of their surroundings as not to fall bait to a surprise attack, Twilight gave a signal for Rainbow Dash to keep a look out just in case as she investigated this strange mystical power in which her horn was being attracted violently to. She moved her head from side to side, peering into those unknown woods; she took one step forward to have a more concentrated look upon the place. She looked back and whispered loudly to Rainbow Dash who was hovering in the air, scanning at the sun dawning horizon.

“Can you see anything close to us Dash?” Twilight asked.

“Uh…Nothing yet.” Rainbow Dash responded, not taking her mind off her objective.

“Come on,” Twilight beckoned “let’s start exploring this strange presence.”

Rainbow Dash tore her eyes from the horizon and cautiously looked at the forest.

The two friends carefully stepped into the forest and where soon sucked in with the dark and the gloom of the forest.

“Can you create a light or something Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight closed her eyes and soon, a faint purple light glowed from her horn. She tilted her head towards Rainbow Dash to see her face covered in several small scratches.

“Are you ok Rainbow?” Twilight asked concerned for her friend’s safety.

“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash said confidently “Perfectly fine. Now let’s see what is attracting you.”

Twilight and Rainbow Dash walked a bit further into the woods, its dark embrace frightened Rainbow Dash but she denied the accusation from Twilight every time she saw her facial expression. They walked upon a swamp, much like the swamp where Fluttershy dropped off the frogs. Twilight’s horn, still emanating the purple light source, spat out faint pink sparks when they came upon the swamp.

“Are you alright Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked with a concerned tone after seeing Twilight’s horn spit out a few sparks.

“Hm…” Twilight muttered “It seems like the presence my horn is being attracted to is present in this large swamp…question is…why?”

“Could be an enemy?” Rainbow Dash suggested.

“Uhh, I mean it COULD be.” Twilight said “Let’s go further to see-”

Twilight was disrupted by a strange voice that greeted her, it whispered in an echoy voice;

“Twilight...Twilight…”

Twilight shrieked a little.

“Gah! W-who was t-that?”

Rainbow Dash, shocked, got up on her hind legs and shouted at her surroundings;

“I’m not afraid of you! Show yourself!” The light blue Pegasus stated loudly, kicking her front legs in the air like she was boxing.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash stood in a position looking ready to fight the speaker of the mysterious voice, the two friends looked, with a war ridden face, at the small wasteland of swamp. Nothing moved for a while before there was a sudden *BANG* followed by an eye blinding shine of bright, white light forcing the two friends to lift one of their front hooves to their eyes for protection and tilting their head away from the light. Once Twilight assumed the light started to subside, she cautiously removed her hoof while opening one of her eyes by the smallest fraction she could manage, closing her eyes as soon as she opened them in fear of the light still being present in its eye blinding state. Before she closed her eyes and complete darkness smothered her vision, she thought she saw three changelings.

“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash whispered giving her unicorn buddy a small nudge.

“I-Is it safe to-” Twilight began, eyes still shut.

“Yes, it’s safe.” Rainbow Dash said, a little quieter “Look!”

Twilight carefully opened her eyes to see three changelings on their knees but sitting upright.

“What do you think they want from us?” Rainbow Dash asked still whispering, not taking her eyes off the stationary changelings.

Twilight’s horn gave a short, small and quite colorful burst disappearing in sparkles.

“Apparently,” Twilight explained to the awe struck Pegasus next to her, “The three changelings are what my horn was being attracted to.” refusing to take her eyes off the changelings as she spoke to her friend.

Twilight caught a motion from the corner of her eye; she turned to see Rainbow Dash and a grin that spread across her face.

“I didn’t know you had something with changelings.” Rainbow Dash said, trying to keep a straight face, her eyes slowly started to water. “BA HAHAHAHA!!” She could not control herself and landed in a pile on the ground laughing, tears dripping from her face.

Twilight, not offended by a lot, sarcastically spat;

“Oh HA HA, laugh it up Rainbow!”

Twilight caught the gaze of the three changelings and realized that they had business to attend to. She kicked the Rainbow Dash rolling on the floor, all senses blocked by gales of laughter, lightly and snapped.

“Rainbow!”

This commanding word tore through the cloud of laughter that blocked her senses. Rising up from the muddy floor, Rainbow Dash questioned;

“What? Why did you k- oh.”

Rainbow Dash stopped as she, too, caught the gaze of the changelings and realized that they had been bickering while the stationary changelings sat, watched and listened.

Dash began with a few simple command phrases for the changelings who remained silent as though they were giving Dash the silent treatment. Dash tried to be nice and kind, she even attempted a nudge by spreading her wings obviously ready to zoom to the changelings to tap them but those wings folded shut as Dash caught the warning, glaring look from Twilight, before the tranquil changelings bust Dash’s bubble by simply remaining in one position as Dash screamed at the three;

“Alright, listen up!” Dash shouted, raising a hoof in a threatening manner. “I don’t know who you are or who you might be, if you know me well, I stick up for my friends, your stillness is representing a sign of danger, just tell us what you want! If you even attempt to lay a hoof…” She stopped and looked at the changeling’s arms realizing that they probably don’t have hooves. “…or whatever you have on my friend, you will all get your flanks-”

Twilight placed a hoof on the angry blue Pegasus’s out stretched hoof, making a small attempt to power it by adding a small force into it. Dash turned to see the calm and compassionate face of Twilight, realizing her demand, Dash placed her hoof down. Twilight then simply commanded;

“Let me try.”

Dash’s bewildered face turned into one ready to fight.

“I’ve got your back Twilight.” Dash reassured, “If they lay a hoof…whatever they have on you, they will get it.” She finished her reassurance by giving the Changelings a disgusted look. Twilight gave a simply nod to Dash’s offered help, she took one step forward onto the muddy ground, cleared her throat quietly yet spoke in quite a loud voice;

“Speak, if you can: What are you all?”

Dash was pretty surprised when the changelings responded to Twilight’s simple command, rather than her threat, by finally moving.

“All hail Princess Twilight!” The first Changeling in line shouted, placing his head onto the ground. “All hail the Princess of the Sun!”

“All hail Princess Twilight!” The middle changeling announced. “All hail the Princess of the moon!”

“All hail Princess Twilight!” The last one hailed. “All hail Princess Twilight, you shall be Queen hereafter!”

As all three changelings bellowed their announcement, they each made contact between their forehead and the ground beneath them.

“Huh?!” Rainbow Dash questioned Twilight in confusion, “Princess of the Sun…AND moon?! Queen hereafter? Does that mean you will replace the roles of Celestia and Luna?!”

Twilight, dumbfounded, opened her mouth to ask several questions that generated faster than the speed of light, but could not produce and words. She didn’t need to say anything for the three changelings seemed to have their attention drawn to Rainbow Dash.

“Hail!”

“Hail!” Cried the three changelings, bowing towards Dash’s direction.

Dash, a little shocked at the sudden hailing, spread her wings and took one hoof back as if she was going to fly away instantly.

“Lesser than Princess Twilight and greater!” The first one began.

“Lesser than Princess Twilight…” Dash’ voice trailed off as she thought for a second, “How does that make sense?” She questioned.

“Not so fortunate, yet much more fortunate!”

“Your daughter will become Queen yet you shall not! Hail Princess Twilight and Rainbow Dash!”

As the three changelings finished their prophecy by touching the muddy floor with their foreheads, Dash’s mouth was open and ready to bombard the changelings with questions but Twilight’s thoughts were ready and she left Dash’s mouth agape by questioning the changelings.

“Speak you nonsense makers!” Twilight interrogated, “Tell us more! By the death of Celestia, I know the duty of the sun shall be passed onto me, but how about the moon? Princess Luna lives! A happy and content Princess…and to command both! This opposes the prospect of belief. Say: From where have you acquired this strange knowledge and why my horn has been attracted to here so you may greet us with prophecies? Speak! I challenge you!”

The changelings remained motionless just like the way they were when Dash threatened them, a bright light slowly began to emanate from them, just like the light Dash and Twilight saw when the changelings first made their entrance. As the light intensified, the two friends covered their eyes once again.

“Oh for Celestia’s sake!” cursed Twilight.

“Ugh.” groaned Dash.

The two friends only expected a blinding light, but they received a powerful surge of wind this time, shocked and caught completely off guard, the two friends both screamed;

“Ahh!!”

Before the surge of wind threw them backwards in the air, they sprawled into the muddy ground beneath them, Twilight’s head suddenly felt really light. She opened her eyes to find that her vision was all blurry. Giving an attempt to rub her eyes, she realized that she no longer had any control over her body, she gave a low groan before the closed her eyes, unconscious.

Twilight’s senses flickered to life. She opened her eyes to see Rainbow Dash at about the same level that she was in. She raised her body up and her hoof flew to her head immediately, she had a headache. Groaning at the discomfort and nausea the headache produced, she scanned her surroundings. There was nothing different except fading blue sparkles where the changelings had been before. Getting onto all fours, she heard a small squelching sound of mud behind her, Dash regained consciousness.

“Ugh, Celestia be damned.” Dash cursed eyes closed, “My head hurts…T-Twilight?”

“Are you experiencing the headache?” Twilight asked examining the flecks of sparkles resting on the floor.

“Ugh…yeah…n-not capable of doing that though.” Dash responded, her speech a little slurred. “Can you do someth-OW!!”

Twilight’s concentration tore from the sparkles to Dash as she heard her cry of pain. “Must have tried to fly.” She thought to herself. Twilight closed her eyes and screwed up her face, in moments, an aura appeared from her horn. Dash’s pain ridden face was soon masked in a normal one as the spell Twilight performed cured her headache.

“Better now?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah…” Dash responded getting on her hooves. “Yeah, much, MUCH better, thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” Twilight responded, waving the word of thanks away.

“W-where did they go?” Dash asked looking around for the changelings.

“Probably dispersed into thin air,” Twilight responded, her attention turning to the flecks of sparkles, “Into thin air and the wind.”

“W-were they really here though?” Dash questioned. “Or have we simply been sleeping in dreams or drifted off into insanity for a second?”

“Uh…Not so likely.” Twilight simply put. “Come on Dash, let’s get back to Celestia before the others get worried, we have no idea of how long we have been unconscious or sleeping for so we’d better get a move on, let’s go.”

As they galloped back to their entrance to the woods, both Twilight and Dash thought about that encounter, both of their faces lost in thought, confusion and questions. Was this really true? She questioned herself. Did this REALLY all happen? Could she believe in the knowledge she acquired today? Will she REALLY become a Princess…let alone a QUEEN? She took one brief glance at Dash’s airborne figure, it told the same story as Twilight’s, a face riddle with questions dying for the individual to be answered.

They slowed down to a trot as they saw the exit within their vision

Twilight tapped Dash’s hind hoof and broke the ice that seemed to form around them by saying;

“Scootaloo shall become Queen.”

“You shall become Queen.” Dash replied, looking at Twilight’s gaze.

“Moon and Sun,” Twilight sighed looking ahead as they approached their entrance, “When was it not?”

“The very words.” Dash replied. She opened her mouth to say something but was cut off as her ears twitched a bit and instead of saying was she was going to say, she asked Twilight, “Do you hear that?”

Twilight and Dash both stopped dead in their tracks and pricked their ears, they soon heard the muffled shouting of both their names by, what seemed like, Applejack’s voice.

“Twilight! Rainbow Dash!” The distant voice called to them.

Chapter 3 - The Tragedy of Night Mare Moon

Twilight jumped out of the forest while Dash soared out of the trees. They saw Applejack, taking the lead, galloping towards them while Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity where far behind her.

“T-Twilight!” Applejack exclaimed, breathless as she reacted the two ponies baffled by their appearance.

“What’s wrong AJ?” Twilight asked.

Applejack opened her mouth attempting to say something, but her husky voice and dry mouth made no words. Rarity, seeing Applejack’s attempts to say the vital information to Twilight, she laid a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder.

“Darling, allow me to explain.” Rarity offered.

Applejack shifted sideways while dropping her gaze towards Twilight, closing her eyes and breathing heavily.

“Twilight,” Rarity began in a quizzical tone, “Have you noticed …something…rather odd about today?”

Twilight greeted Rarity’s out-of-the-blue question with a quick glance around her surroundings.

“Nnn…oooooo.” Twilight slowly responded still looking at her surroundings. “I…don’t…th…think so…”

“What time do you expect it to be dear?” Rarity asked.

Twilight looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful afternoon about near sunset. The colorful hues of purple and yellow littered the sky; the moon may be rising any minute now. The clouds patterns, smartly devised by the Cloudsdale ponies, added an extra intensifier for the colors, making it an awe inspiring sight. A flock of birds flew by casually, chirping their heavenly tune as they soared the skies, the cool autumn breeze brushed gently amongst the trees making a soft, calming rustling sound, it was peaceful, serine and tranquil as if this war virtually had no effect amongst their surroundings.

Twilight, realizing that she was supposed to be answering a question, looked down towards Rarity’s blank face and replied;

“About six to seven in the afternoon?”

“Well, it would be expected of you dear.” Rarity responded, her facial expression not changing the slightest.

Twilight immediately knew something was wrong; she looked up towards the sky with an expression of fear. “Am I going mad?” She thought to herself.

“Darling, darling.” Rarity piped up, soothingly stroking Twilight’s mane as she saw the fear in her facial expression.

“I-I don’t understand.” Twilight stuttered looking fearfully into Rarity’s sapphire blue eyes. “I-If it r-r-really isn’t six to seven, then w-what is the time right now?”

“Well, this might come as a shock to you dear but it is in fact past nine-thirty at night.” Rarity responded in a soft, calming tone while keeping her eyes fixed on Twilight’s.

Twilight had already assumed what happened, but she chose to oppose her thoughts. Yet she had to ask “Please,” she thought, “Please do not let this be true.”

“Rarity…” Twilight quietly asked “A-Are you saying that Princess L-“

“I am afraid so darling…Princess Luna is indeed dead, if that is what you were thinking of course.” Rarity cut in. “Everypony is shaken, Princess Celestia being the one that has been victimized the most…this isn’t exactly GOOD news is it dear?” Rarity rhetorically asked.

“No time to waste Twilight, we must all get to Celestia’s castle immediately, come on Rainbow, you as well.”

And with Rarity’s speech with the now re-formed group, the five of them galloping towards the direction of Celestia’s castle leaving an agitated and still quite exhausted Applejack cursing silently and groan in despair before hurrying off to join the others that where far ahead of her.

-=-=-=-

“Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student.”

This was Celestia’s greeting as Twilight approached her presence.

As the four ponies galloped as fast as their hooves would carry them leaving the two pegasi to glide through the air, Twilight thought deeply about the Great War, the possibilities of Princess Luna’s death and the changeling’s prophecy. She was having a hard time trying to focus on the three different subjects all fighting for the spotlight of concentration inside her brain, screwing up her face in determination, she ruled the Changeling’s prophecy to be the most important…for now at least after weighing the three topics. “The Prophecy.” she thought while galloping. “Could they really be true?” She continued thinking. “Could ALL of them be true? Could I trust these potentially evil changelings?” She didn’t know for she has received knowledge about the death of Princess Luna, and according to the prophecy, SHE was going to be the Princess of the Night, she wasn’t officially, but it was close…oh so very close, maybe-

“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, the volume of her voice digging into all of Twilight’s thought’s and concentration.

Twilight shook her head and turned back, slowly reducing her speed from a galloping to trotting.

“What is it?” Twilight questioned twisting her head to face Pinkie, she saw the four other ponies trot towards a running river; she then asked, “Where is everypony going?”

“We’re just having a quick rest and a drink from a stream we found earlier!” Pinkie informed Twilight. “You don’t want to waste all your energy Twilight, come on!”

Twilight took her time to walk over as Pinkie bounded towards the others, as she arrived at the stream, she took a quick gulp of water. It was cool and relaxing. Swallowing it with relish, she took a few more drinks before shambling off the group, which were now discussing this tragedy, what Dash and herself have been doing and ways to stop Rarity’s complaints about sweating while some of them washed the blood off their bodies, and into a nearby arch with a tree growing on it. She leaned against the tree and continued her thoughts guided by the calming force of the cool breeze. “Ok, where was I?” she thought. “Ahh yes” Twilight indeed knew a few things about the night, and moon respectively, from a few private lessons she attended with Princess Luna some months ago, naturally excelling in the theoretical proportion of it, yet lacked on physical demonstration though she did have one or two tricks in the mystical unicorn horn of hers.

She thought about the next prophecy, the commandment of the moon AND sun. Twilight naturally had a few private lessons with Celestia about the sun, yet she knew nothing about controlling it, she didn’t know ANYTHING about mandating the sun although her extra academic work on the sun, she could literally revise the complete edition of Celestia’s lectures from top to bottom. Controlling the sun however was different. COMPLETELY different, to Twilight, the job of controlling both cycles where like burning a candle from both ways. Discarding this prophecy into one side for the meantime, she carried on into the next point, this stated that Rainbow Dash’s daughter, Scoots, will become Queen. “Probably take over my place when I pass on.” she thought. “Could be thousands of years.” She gave a short laugh at her little joke. Twilight heard a small fluttering of wings; she slowly opened her eyes and tilted her head to see Rainbow Dash hover slowly towards her.

“Have some room for me?” Dash asked Twilight, pointing towards the tree trunk in which Twilight was leaning on.

“Sure,” Twilight responded in a friendly gesture, “Come here.” she patted a patch of grass beside her.

Dash slowly descended from her flight and dropped onto the ground, she sighed slowly.

“Some war huh?” The Pegasus asked her unicorn buddy.

“You said it Dash…some war,” Twilight responded, “…some war…”

“You alright?” Dash quizzed, looking at Twilight’s face.

“Oh…yeah don’t worry about me,” Twilight reassured Dash, sighing, she continued, “just…really tired that’s all…”

“Ugh, I know what you mean,” Dash groaned, turning to face the scene that was within her vision, “Now with this mumbo jumbo going on, we gotta double time it.” She gave the tired unicorn a soft push “Hey, do you think that the changeling’s prophecies where correct? Or were they just some WORDS OF WISDOM that they just spat out faster than a sonic rainboom?”

“Honestly, I am not too sure Dash.” Twilight admitted. “I am not going to trust them, yet I do not think that EVERYTHING they said was completely a lie, I mean look, Princess Luna has been confirmed as dead. Yet when the changelings chanted their prophecies, they said I was going to be the Princess of the moon, I’m not officially one yet but it is close. With all this evidence, I can’t really decide.”

“Well,” sighed Rainbow Dash spitting out a blade of grass she was chewing on, “I don’t really understand what my prediction was, but my Scoots will become Queen, I hope that is true, though I may not live to see that happen *sigh*” Looking up at the sky, she self-consciously said, “Make me proud Scoot.”

Twilight looked at Dash, who was serene, closing her eyes and smiling a bit, and placed a hoof over Dash’s hoof.

Dash looked at Twilight’s hoof before looking up at her, Dash’s smile turned into a frown.

“I’m sure she will Dash,” Twilight said quietly, “I’m sure she will.”

Dash’s frown disappeared allowing her smile to take form as Twilight said those words.

“Hey,” Twilight said a little surprised, “D’you thinking we should get going?”

“Oh yeah!” Dash exclaimed, taking flight forgetting that they are meant to be heading to Celestia’s castle. “I forgot that! I’m all rested but wasn’t too tired from before.”

Twilight stood up and started to walk away while Dash glided swiftly in front of her.

“Come on everypony!” Twilight announced as she walked into where everypony was chatting.

“Y’all all ready to go?” Applejack asked.

Five heads nodded.

“Let’s set off then!” Dash exclaimed. “Hey Applejack, you got any energy left inside ya for a race?”

“Darn tootin’!” Applejack said smiling. “That rest and drink aughta place some energy in these kickers! You got yourself a race Sally!”

And with that, the two athletic ponies shot off into the distance leaving the four ponies behind them chuckling briefly before galloping to try and keep up.

-=-=-=-

As they approached the entrance of the jaw dropping castle, one of the two guards, whom were guarding the entrance, immediately recognized Twilight amongst the six tired and heavily breathing ponies. The guard greeted Twilight with a brief message;

“Miss Sparkle, Princess Celestia requests your presence as soon as you possibly can.”

“Thank you.” Twilight replied politely, walking in as the guards let down the drawbridge for the six to pass.

Everypony followed Twilight into the majestic town square where they saw ponies all over the place discussing the tragedy of Princess Luna. As they walked through the town directly to the castle that opposed them, they saw ponies reading newspapers with the front page as “The Tragedy of Princess Luna.” The six friends saw despair everywhere as the town was buzzing with ponies although the time was at least twelve, and walked for a few more minutes before arriving at the Royal palace. There were eight guards standing on four leveled platforms, one on each side. Twilight approached the closest guard to her and stated;

“Twilight Sparkle requesting to see Princess Celestia.”

The guards closest to the door used their magic to open the door, their blue glow emanating throughout the grand doors, a yellow aura slowly too over before the doors swung open to reveal the majestic figure of Princess Celestia.

“Princess!” Twilight exclaimed while the other five bowed deeply in respect of this god-like Alicorn.

“Welcome everypony, come in.” Celestia beckoned with those words to the five ponies whose heads were still touching the ground.

“I trust that you heard all about the news Twilight?” Celestia asked as the six friends all walked inside the warm and brightly lit walkway while the doors closed softly upon them.

“Yes Princess.” answered Twilight. “A-are you alright Princess?”

“Well, not as you would think, naturally,” Celestia answered, “This coincides with the fact that both of us spent a little time a few months previously to individually write out will, thus, the reason you are all here everypony.”

“How will all of us be of any assistance Princess Celestia?” Questioned Rarity while walking.

“Princess Luna requested that you organize her f-” Celestia choked on the very word, “-her funeral, s-she knows how well you ponies pull off a special occasion when one decides to arrive.”

The five funeral-planning ponies nodded at Celestia instinctively knowing what each individual pony must do.

“She wanted it to be set out like this,” Princess Celestia handed Rarity a neatly folded scroll. As Rarity controlled the scroll with her own magic, she opened it carefully and quickly skimmed over the details before folding it neatly again and handing it over to Twilight who placed it gently in her saddle bag she was still carrying.

“Consider this job done Princess Celestia!” Rarity announced confidently. “We’ll give it our best shot.”

Celestia turned her head towards Twilight leaving everypony behind her to chat amongst themselves about the funeral.

“As for you Twilight,” Celestia started, “Princess Luna has informed me of your private lessons with her some months ago where fruitful, am I incorrect?” she questioned her faithful student.

“No Princess,” Twilight responded, “Although I have to admit that the physical bringing-up-of-the-moon I lack, but I have basically memorized every theoretical advice and work she has given me, not to mention her techniques she has also taught me.”

“I know I can count on you Twilight.” Celestia smiled gently, Twilight’s heart soared at her praise “I would assume that you would probably be –oh, mind the steps,” Celestia warned as they approached the spiral stairs, “disappointed,” she continued, “and or excited by this news, Princess Luna has written that you are now the new Princess of the moon.”

“What?!” The five friends and Twilight exclaimed out loud, she caught her five friend’s faces by the corner of her eye to see that their mouths agape.

“B-but Princess, d-do I have to bring out the moon and stars now?!” Twilight stuttered.

“Well it would be helpful to everypony in town.” Celestia commented looking outside her window. “Everypony is still up but first, you must have a look at this, I have seen what this room contains, try make a deduction and repot to me, I don’t dare do it myself.” Celestia simply put stopping in front of two large doors with a plaque on top of it. “Sleeping Chamber” it read, embedded on the gold slab of plaque.

“I must warn each and everypony that the contents behind this room are very…disgusting…” Celestia warned. She opened the doors with her magic to reveal a horrifying sight.

Princess Luna’s head was nailed with a sword on the wall directly opposite to the six ponies horrified by what they are seeing. They noticed that her wings were pulled from her body, being nailed on each side of the wall above them they could then see a heart nailed just a little bit above the body of Luna, blood still cascading from it. Looking down, her face was sightless, the eyes have been gauged out, blood running down her train wreck of a face. There were cuts, bruises, wounds and missing teeth, her skull was deformed, bits of bone sticking out of her flesh, positioning of certain parts of the face were askew. Following the blood tricking down her lifeless face, was her mangled throat. Twilight could only assume that her throat was either pounded on by something, strangulation by magical force or stepped on by hoof or some other strange object.

Further down, her stomach was the main point, a visibly infinite amount of sword cuts were evident, there were so many that the flesh slowly started to dislodge and fall to the blood puddle-covered floor. Her stomach looked like an object exploded from it, peeling back to view her hollow stomach. Twilight questioned the entrails, but placed the thought aside. They looked a bit further down into the floor, the puddles of blood gradually increasing in size and amount, staining everything that came into contact with it. They walked into the chamber towards the life void Princess Luna before Rarity screamed at the ceiling, blood dripping from the ceiling as Luna’s entrails where nailed to form a messy pentagram, blood splatters were evident from the place they were nailed onto.

The six ponies carefully avoided the blood dripping from the entrails laid to form a pentagram to walk over to examine Princess Luna’s boy further. It was evident that she was nailed here before somepony or something had performed slashes of her stomach as blood splattering was in the form of downward strokes, bits of flesh slapped upon Celestia’s bed that was next to her nailed body forming tiny blood spatters where it landed, the strips of flesh that slapped on the walls slowly slid down dragging above them a blood trail. Rarity was quick to jump as she could not take any more of this “muck”. She trotted out as quick as lightning followed by Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.

Twilight and Dash remained in the room “I still haven’t surveyed the balcony yet.” Twilight thought as she saw a blood trail from coming and/or leading to the balcony. Twilight asked Dash if she could carry her on her back as to view the bloody scene without touching any of the evidence. Twilight carefully opened the blood spattered door to hop on Dash and zoom out. The balcony was equally disgusting as the sleeping chamber, Twilight deducted that this was where the assault probably started.

Airborne, she looked at the balcony, she deducted that it started with an arrow that pierced her wing, explaining the hole on her left wing. It may have started that she was attacked by something that pushed her over as there was a small dent on the balcony, she was then probably bashed on the hand rails, Luna’s face and the bloody hand rails did correlate in a way, Twilight then assumed that her face was repetitively forced on the handrails, noting the bits of teeth in the balcony floor.

Twilight asked Dash to lower her until they reached the willow trees not far below the balcony. She then roughly estimated the trajectory if Luna where to spit down here, Dash flew down to where Twilight asked and sure enough, Twilight found traces of saliva, blood and vomit present on some of the willow trees, staining their innocence. She then deducted that her throat was forced onto the handrails repetitively while probably getting injured in the stomach as traces of the internal blood were present externally. Dash then flew up allowing Twilight to examine the balcony once again. The dragging could mean that Luna was then slammed onto the ground, face first as there was a huge splattering of blood. Her face was probably repetitively jumped on as Luna’s head was oddly out of shape, there where tiny pieces of bone which probably indicated Luna’s broken cranium. She was probably swung by her legs onto the building wall beside the balcony as large amounts of blood splatters were evident.

After that torturing period, she was probably dragged inside the room as blood trails roughly the diameter of Luna’s head lead into the room where her lifeless body then suffered a redundant amount of times. Dash flew back inside to allow Twilight to be on her hooves so she could examine the body further, she then noticed a small piece of blood-stained paper inside Luna’s stomach, she carefully dislodged the nail using her magic to levitate the note.

It read “The Devil inside”

“Probably conveys the deformation of her stomach.” Twilight bitterly thought. She flipped the paper around, which read:

“Paid for her sins”

“Strange…” she thought “What sin did Luna commit?” Twilight’s head went blank at the thought. Armed with all her deductions and knowledge collected, she approached the Princess and the other ponies who were madly discussing this as if it was the only topic to talk about during the end of the world.

Inside, Twilight was also thinking about an inferior subject as of now. The Changeling’s prophecy, it stated that she will become Princes of the Night…now she is! With this fact, she wondered if EVERYTHING they said was correct. How was she meant to become Princess of both? Did she have to do the one ultimate thing she never thought about, the biggest sin….Kill Celestia?

Chapter 4 - The New Moon

“Princess Celestia,” Twilight said gravely.

“What can you pick up?” Celestia asked, a hint of anxiety could be detected in her voice.

Twilight explained her assumptions to the anxiety ridden Alicorn.

“…I can only assume that this COULD be a changeling attack as they like to make things really messy and the handwriting plus the hoof, or whatever they used to walk, marks on the balcony.” Twilight explained.

Princess Celestia sighed and turned to everypony.

“Everypony,” she simply uttered.

All noise ceased.

“Please go upstairs to freshen up and find your rooms.” she said in her quiet manner. “I have had them renovated to suit your needs. If you happen to be hungry, the table should be dished out, eat what you wish to eat. We have a big day tomorrow.”

Everypony turned to head over to their rooms. Twilight took one step forward before Celestia said;

“Twilight,” she turned her head, “Come with me, you still have a moon to rise.”

Twilight’s face looked doubtful and filled with despair as Celestia sounded those words, she was not too confident with raising the moon all by herself.

“What’s the matter Twilight?” Celestia asked “Looking doubtful.”

“It’s…” Twilight begun “It’s…just that…I…I-”

“Don’t think you are able to do it?” Celestia asked.

“Yes!” exclaimed Twilight a little too loudly, “No!” she shouted as she realized what she said, “It’s just that…I-I don’t have a cutie mark that resembles the moon…do I Princess?”

Celestia began walking towards the end-hall balcony where Twilight is meant to raise the moon.

“Well as true as that may be Twilight,” Celestia agreed looking back to her faithful student, “You do however have a cutie mark that resembles magic and if I am not mistaken, the rising of the moon requires magic, does it not?”

Twilight thought about this piece of logic, finding her way around it, she slowly nodded.

“It can be hard I know.” Celestia reassured her young student. “Even for an Alicorn like me, some days I find it very painful, but life has its ups and downs, they are there to test us, to see if we are really in a bad day, if one does not cope with these turn of events, the more you will break down, my sister is dead, yes I know. But you see I’m not really as you thought I’d be affected am I? Well, I just accepted my sister’s dead, there is nothing I could do if I just simply sat there and wept would there? Life is unforgiving and so is time, besides Twilight, Ponyville is counting on somepony to grant their sleeping time. I trust you Twilight, I always have. That is why I decided to give this place to you.”

Twilight looked at Celestia. Hope flooded her senses as her mentor uttered those very words.

“W-well I-if everypony is counting on ME…then I-I’ll try.” Twilight responded quietly.

With that, Twilight walked over to the balcony where she looked at the sky. The hues of the afternoon sky still glistening.

“Ok think Twilight think, what were the tips she gave me?” Concentrating hard, she took several maneuvers of steps before her horn finally emanated its purple aura. For ten minutes, she stood rigid on the balcony floor, body completely tensed, grunting in frustration time and time again. She suddenly felt a zap of energy flow through her body. “Don’t lose concentration Twilight.” she thought. “It’s probably Celestia giving me a hoof.”

With Celestia’s ancient and powerful magic aiding her, she soon noticed a dimming in light behind her two tightly shut eyes, drop after drop of perspiration were soon falling towards the balcony’s marble floor. She dropped to the ground, completely drained of energy, panting hard and cursing in frustration. The magical aura disappeared from her horn and she forced her sore eyelids open.

“D-Did I do it-”

Her question was cut off as she saw the moon’s pale and faintly blue glow fall on her eyes.

Jaw dropped and unable to speak, she was having a hard time believing how this was possible.

“D-Did I j-just raise the m-moon and the s-stars?!” she stuttered.

“Yes you did,” Celestia responded, smiling but looking at the moon, “I am amazed at you Twilight.”

The happy, purple unicorn laid her head on the cold marble floor, as her panting subsided, she slowly started to lift herself off the ground and onto her four hooves.

“I knew you could do it.” Celestia whispered as Twilight was on all fours.

As Twilight’s panting completely stopped, she looked at Celestia and said;

“I didn’t know I could Princess, but I did it, and it took quite the effort.”

“Being in charge of a cycle that created a society like this does not come in as an easy task.” Celestia simply put. “You may have noticed I helped you a little bit?”

“Yes, I felt that surge of energy.” Twilight answered, remembering the energy surge. “Did that speed it up?” she questioned.

“It certainly did, remember how I helped Princess Luna with her moon and stars?” Twilight nodded. “Well I can speed it up by helping her do it but you Twilight, you are special.”

“Huh?” Twilight questioned. “Special? Why?”

“For somepony to raise both the stars and the moon simultaneously takes quite the effort, not to mention that not even Princess Luna managed to achieve that goal.”

Twilight gazed into the moon at amazement of her achievement.

“I think it is time you had your rest Twilight,” Celestia stated, “Hearing yourself after the rising of the moon I think it is best you had your rest.”

Twilight looked at the Princess and simply said “Thank you.”

Celestia closed her eyes and made a quick gesture of acknowledgment before Twilight opened the door and trotted off down the hall before closing the door as quietly as possible behind her.

Celestia watched her young student head off towards her sleeping chamber.

As Twilight reached the door of the banquet hall she placed a hoof on it before she heard voices from the hall as the door was slightly ajar. Twilight knew it was wrong, but she peeked through the crack to see the other five ponies having fun while eating, drinking and laughing.

“Wow Dashie! Pinkie exclaimed while Dash drank from her goblet. “You must have had a really tired day!”

“Darling,” Rarity questioned, “How EVER can you go through that muck!”

Dash rolled her eyes at the very question hoping it was rhetorical.

Twilight took her hoof off from the door, turned and began to walk to her sleeping chamber before she was jumped on by Pinkie Pie.

“Hey there Twilight!” Pinkie welcomed in her usual happy manner. She turned around to face the friends on the table and simply stated “Twilight’s here guys!”

Twilight was then swarmed by her five best friends.

“Wha-what’s going on?” Twilight questioned.

“Oh come on Twilight,” Rarity said, “You don’t have to be so modest about it.”

“M-Modest about…”

“Raising the moon up Twi,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed airborne, “It was SO AWESOME!”

Twilight just realized what they were all talking about.

“Oh…yea…that.” Twilight muttered unexcitedly.

“What’s wrong Twi?” Applejack questioned, noticing the un-natural down side of her purple unicorn friend.

“Nothing Aj, don’t worry,” Twilight reassured her, “I’m just really tired after rising the moon.” In fact, that was half of the truth because the rising of the moon made her ravenous, tired and pretty dehydrated. “Should I go into the banquet hall? Or have you guys eaten everything?” she asked.

“Don’t be a silly billy Twilight!” Pinkie bounded. “We won’t forget you! Of COURSE we would leave stuff out for you!”

“After all darling,” Rarity added, “You where the heroin who saved us from Trixie.”

“Thank you everypony” Twilight thanked, “You should all get some rest, don’t worry about me, I’ll just be down here.”

“You sure you’re ok down here Twilight?” Questioned the loyal pegasus.

“Oh sure Dash,” Twilight responded confidently, “Think about it, what could be the worst thing that happens after all? We’re in a castle protected by guards, not to mention that this castle contains the most powerful mare in all of Equestria, I’m sure I can handle it Dash IF something were to break in, thank you for your support though.” she smiled.

Rainbow Dash saluted before walking off, the others followed her saying their farewells and with Twilight responding to every one of them..

She looked at her five friends walk around the corner, still discussing the events of today. With the voices of her friends disappearing slowly around the corner, Twilight then walked into the well-lit and furnished hall. Amongst the seats out of place and the dirty plates on the table, Twilight immediately realized that the chair neatly tucked into place with a goblet and a shiny silver plate was where she is meant to sit.

She drew the chair back with her magic whilst pouring herself some juice from the crystalline jug on the table. While she chewed on a piece of fruit she picked up, she thought, she constantly thought about today, measuring up the evidence she had and whether or not they are true, she had a small amount of evidence that they are true, quite simply, it was her becoming Princess of the Night, that was her small amount of evidence. Although it was true, she looked at the down side of it. Princess Luna is dead, “But I became Princess of the Night” “But Luna is dead! Can you not hear yourself Twilight?!” There seemed to be a small war going on inside her head as she thought about the 2 major points of today. Was this a sign of hope?

Chapter 5 - A Fresh Start (WIP)

She took a while to eat before she politely wiped her mouth, tucked in the chair behind her and closed the doors to the banqueting hall. She walked up the stairs to the resting chambers, noting that everypony were in the main hall of the chambers chatting, laughing and eating a few bits of fruit. Twilight joined the happy looking five in their conversations by walking in and soon, she was immersed in the chatting, laughing and eating of everypony in the main hall. It took, what seemed like several hours, before their speech started to be interrupted with yawns and slurred speech, after all of them realized that they need their rest, they all split up into 6 individual sleeping chambers.

As Twilight approached the bed in her chamber, she laid eyes on the adorable little figure of Spike in his cot-like bed snoring softly next to her queen sized bed, walked over to him and gently tucked her sleeping dragon. She lumbered over to the cobblestone built restroom where she brushed her teeth, while looking at a mirror above her basin. The weary markers of her effort were represented with eye bags while her drooping face showed just how tired she was, as she laid her dreary head onto the soft pillow provided by Celestia, she thought she might receive some sleep immediately but apparently her mind says otherwise, despite the fact that her eyes were drooping and she was yawning her brain was still attempting to calculate truth from a lie over today’s events. She tossed and turned on her bed, grunting momentarily in frustration at her mind’s “jumpy” state.

Twilight’s senses flickered to consciousness but her eyes remained shut, she felt a part of her body being hit with the emanating, warming glow of Celestia’s sun,, her ears twitched as heard the sound of hoofsteps, she screwed up her face and let one eye open to see a finely, hoof crafted, mahogany cabinet drawer decorated neatly with a cloth as white as snow, a vase with 4 beautiful roses and a clear glass of water, groaning in frustration at the piercing light of Celestia’s sun, she shut her eyes again before she turned onto her back. She heard a voice, a familiar one which exclaimed “Twilight!” She opened her eyes to see the face of Spike on top of her, his dragon eyes swirling with emotion

“Oh Twilight” Spike exclaimed “You could have been KILLED in that one on one showdown with Trixie!”

Twilight smiled and made an attempt to get up, Spike, instinctively knowing that she may get up, jumped off her bed as quickly and effortlessly as he could landing on the carpet which was elaborately designed featuring Star Swirl the bearded was also incredibly soft. As Twilight rose from her bed, she trotted over to her mirror where she began to brush her mane.

“Oh come on Spike” Twilight calmed her small companion while she magically brushed her mane “It wasn't ALL bad, I got to end this war didn't I? That fight to end the war was part of the fun!”

“W-What about the other part?” Questioned Spike

“The other part? Why, killing Trixie of course!” Twilight said with a smart and cheery tone

“Well I’m glad you are alright” Spike sighed “I don’t know what would happen if I lost you”

“I appreciate your worry for me Spike,” Twilight thanked as she moved on from her neatly brushed mane to her body and tail “By the way, how were things when all of us where out?” she asked

Spike was folding Twilight’s bed sheets as Twilight asked the question, while he worked on fluffing up her pillow, he answered;

“Uh…as a matter of fact, not so crummy as I has anticipated” stated Spike “The crusading team of filly's where in the royal garden trying to “be one” with nature and also taking care of some of Fluttershy’s animals while I looked after them, soon, Cadence and your brother arrived and they took over for foal sitting so I headed for the kitchen to eat gems and…” he stopped

Twilight, placing her brush down, looked towards Spike with a doubtful look, she edged him on further by saying;

“…and…?”

“Oh no!” Spike wailed

He ran around the bed and pounced on Twilight who was too slow to keep up. He knocked Twilight over and was soon on top of her…again.

“Gah!” Twilight exclaimed at the sudden change of events combined with the worried face of Spike in front of her

“Is Rarity ok?” he babbled quickly “Did she get hurt? How is she? Is she injured? That technically counts as getting hurt, but I don’t want to contradict myself because that is plain stupid but *gasp*!!”

Spike stopped dead as he thought of something dreadful, he leaned closer to Twilight dropped his voice dramatically and whispered in a barely audible voice

“Did she make it…?”

Twilight screwed up her face and her horn glowed before she teleported behind Spike whose face was touching the ground

“Yes Spike” Twilight reassured as Spike was upright “Rarity is ok, don’t worry”

Her reassurance did the trick as she noted that Spike’s quick breathing, almost to a point where it could be considered as hyperventilating, gradually began to decline into a normal breathing rate

“Oh, ok” he panted “I just hope she is alright, ack, my throat is dry, can you drink the water dispensed from the tap in the bathroom?” Spike asked with a dry mouth

“I assume so, I mean, I took a sip or two and I’m fine right now”

“Next thing you know…” Spike joked while walking to the bathroom. He stuck his tongue out, rolled his eyes back and ran one finger from one point of his neck to another “You’re dead” he disappeared into the bathroom

Twilight rolled her eyes “Oh Spike” she thought. There were 3 knocks on the door, her head darted towards the door and soon enough, a muffled stallion’s voice was heard from behind the door, it stated;

“Princess Celestia requests the presence of Spike the Dragon”

Twilight frowned, what could Celestia possibly want from Spike?

“Any reason given?” She asked, puzzled

“Spike the Dragon is part of the team of funeral planners, he is requested to partake his duty in organizing this funeral”

“Oh that” Thought Twilight, she opened her mouth to call Spike but closed it as his purple head appeared from the bathroom

“What’s this?” He questioned, the edges of his mouth wet with water

“You’re part of the funeral planning team aren't you?” Twilight asked

“Sure” Spike answered

“Well, apparently, you have to go now and meet with the five” Twilight opened the door to be greeted with the presence of a strongly built, Pegasus, royal guard with a serious face

“Is Spike the Dragon here?” the stallion asked

“Here I am!” Spike exclaimed

The guard looked down and saw Spike’s energetic face

“Follow me” he said before turning around and walking out

Chapter 6 - Twilight's Uncertainty

As Spike walked out with the accompanied protector, Twilight asked Spike;

“Hey Spike,” she began “When you see a maid, can you ask her to give me a breakfast meal please?”

“Sure Twilight!” Spike responded closing the door behind his lifelong partner

Twilight watched the door close before turning her head to see the time. “9:48, not bad…uh what do I do now? Hm….” She walked over to the renovated study table, pulled out the oak wood chair, took a book out of the shelf and placed it in front of her. “Star swirl the bearded: The 7 constellations” the title read, followed by an old wizard with a beard, decorated by swirling constellations and eye catching colors “Well, nothing to do” she thought “Might do some light reading” . She magically flipped the cover of the book and arrived at page one where she began her “light” reading.

Being so immersed into the book she was reading, it took the consistent tapping sound on the window to worm into Twilight’s concentration, jerking her head up and looking towards the window, she saw a light grey Pegasus carrying a mail bag, gently tapping at her window while wearing a frustrated facial expression.

“Derpy!” Twilight exclaimed, she quickly trotted over to open the window “Hi Derpy! What um…might you be doing tapping my window for?” she questioned the grey Pegasus

“Hiya Twilight!” Derpy the mail mare responded cheerfully, “I came over here because…you’ve got mail!”

“Uh…Derpy…would it not be a little more efficient if you took the door instead of fly up here?”

“Oh yea!” Derpy exclaimed with a surprised tone “Why didn’t I think of that? I’ll see you later Twilight!”

As the mail mare slowly descended, Twilight called

“D-Derpy!”

“Yes?” Derpy responded rising once again

“Come on in, you’re here anyway, I’m just saying that next time, you may want to save yourself the trouble and just approach from the door rather than send it straight to the person”

“Oh alright!” Derpy exclaimed, acknowledging the small tip given to her while she swooped in allowing a few letters to flutter aimlessly around Twilight’s room

“That looks pretty heavy” Twilight stated noting bits of, what she thought were, parcels sticking from her leather mail bag “Would you like something to eat and or drink?”

“Do you have any muffins?” Derpy asked casually

“Oh sure” Twilight responded “Hold on a sec”

As Twilight walked towards the door, she heard a rustling of paper behind her; she stopped and turned to see that Derpy’s head disappeared into her mail bag along with her 2 hooves. Twilight heard knocking, turning her head to face the door, she magically opened the door to see a maid dressed in a brilliantly white apron, levitating a duster and a try carrying a numerous amount of food.

“Breakfast meal for Twilight Sparkle?” addressed the mail timidly

“Yes that’s me, thank you” Twilight responded, taking the tray from her magic and closing the door behind her. She placed the tray on her study table after she carefully removed the heavy book that she was previously reading, levitating two muffins on the tray to Derpy, she began the conversation.

“So Derpy” Twilight began as Derpy ate the muffin with glee “What is this letter?”

“Oh!” Derpy replied with a mouth full of muffin “Well, it was from the Mayor Mare! She wanted to tell you that you are holding a ceremony at about twelve, noon!”

“A-A ceremony?” Twilight questioned with a frown

“I think she said it was a correlation or something” Derpy replied with a thoughtful face, swallowing her first bite of the muffin, she turned around and fiddled inside her mailbag before she retracted a brownish-orange letter sealed with the sticker of ponyville. Derpy handed the letter to Twilight “Here, take a look!” she said

“A correlation?” Twilight rolled her eyes in thought, she took the letter and opened it, her eyes flew from left to right as she skimmed the letter, “What in the name of-“ she muttered, her eyes reached the word “coronation” and she exclaimed; “oh! You mean a coronation!” looking up at Derpy’s eating face

“Something of the sorts, I can’t really remember” Derpy answered virtually demolishing her first muffin in another big mouthful “What time is it?” the mail mare questioned

Twilight turned her head to face the clock

“About ten past, I’d better get ready” she self-consciously uttered, her eyes fixed on the clock, there was a sudden bout of dizziness as if Twilight’s mind was spinning, she immediately felt sluggish and light headed

“Oh, before I go, may I use your toilet?” Derpy asked casually, though in Twilight’s position, the grey Pegasus may as well ask that question after downing several bottles of AppleJack Daniel’s

“Huh?” Twilight asked, looking at Derpy “Oh! Yea, sure, be my guest” she quickly gestured

As Derpy trotted into the toilet closing the door behind her, Twilight placed a hoof on her head

“What’s going on?” She thought “Why does my head hurt? Agh…”

She sat down, rubbing her head, closing her eyes tightly and wincing at the unpleasant nauseating feeling this…thing was occurring to her

“Hold on” she thought “This was worse than the feeling I got when the changelings used their magic to draw me into the forest, I remember this nauseating feeling”

She opened her eyes and looked around the room, searching for this magic’s source

“Assuming that if this is worse…” she deduced “That means that it may be closer to me?”

She retracted her field of vision and looked at her surroundings. The mail bag! It was the only thing that could possibly contain something secretive around her, she lifted the top of the mail bag and looked inside and sure enough, she saw the supernatural, a letter rattling about.

The impulse of pain came yet again, a lot stronger than it had previously. She dropped the flap of mailbag she was magically lifting, placed her hoof straight to her head, and closed her eyes shut, wincing at the pain and groaned;

“Argh…”

“Whatever this thing is, it’s DEFINATLY the source” She assumed

She lifted the flap of the leather mailbag up to view the letter once more; pin pointing the location of the letter was no problem as it didn’t change its yellow brownish color with a hint of green. She levitated the letter out of the bag and examined it closely, it would have looked like every other letter in the bag if not it’s slightly greenish appearance, this green almost represents the corruption of this letter, as if poison of some sort destroyed it’s innocence, probably explaining the supernatural moving and psychologically harming abilities, it was also sealed using very thin, and strangely blue, wax which carved the symbol of The Pentagram just like the one present on the ceiling of Luna’s death room. She flipped the letter over to the front; the same blue wax traced the words “Twilight Sparkle” rather neatly fashion seeing that it is wax flowing from a lit candle. She was a bit scared but who wouldn’t be at these circumstances, he wondered what this could mean, for all she knew, it wasn’t good as The Pentagram is clearly ther-

The door to the lavatory flew open before Derpy burst out of there, soaring through the air while dripping tiny particles of water like a snail leaves a slimy track as it slithers about. Twilight, alarmed that Derpy may accuse her of snooping through her mail bag, quickly placed the letter behind her back to hide her little secret

“Hey there Twilight,” Derpy exclaimed as she landed next to her mailbag “I gotta go, it was nice talking to you, I hope we can do this again sometime!”

“I’d like that” Twilight put short, smiling at the grey Pegasus while she helped her put on the mail bag, placing all the letters fallen out and the muffin she forgot to eat.

As Derpy flew from Twilight’s room, she waved goodbye before flying off into the distance, small amounts of letters flying from her mailbag as she flew, Twilight returned the friendly gesture of departure before he close the windows and locked them. Watching the grey mail mare slowly escaping her field of vision, she slowly began to feel a seeping feeling of guilt the further Derpy flew away, she knew it was wrong of her to snoop let alone steal…but what could she do? Thinking of this question, her mind began to create excuse after excuse which increased her burden of guilt. She walked to the bed and sat on the edge of it whilst bitterly taking a sorrowful bit of an apple still on the breakfast tray provided to her “Did I really HAVE to do that?” She thought in shame “I really didn’t need to TAKE it out, all I needed to do was-“there was a knocking on the door. Groaning in annoyance at, probably, the 3rd distraction of her thoughts today, she grouchily slid off the bed, walked stiffly over and opened the door to…whoever it was with a scowl, as she opened the door, she angrily thought “What in the name of Equestria do you want-?” There in front of her, stood the grand figure of Princess Celestia.