Chapters * This chapter has been edited *
Applejack hums to herself quietly, bucking the tree behind her. She looks up at the twinkling stars. Oh, how they used to be so beautiful. But now, now that the night will last forever, they're not. She bucks another apple tree, this time harder. She was furious. In order to keep their crops alive, they had to rely on Nightmare Moon to enchant their crops. For her, it was shameful to have to rely on her. Because it's how she keeps them in line. They mess up, they loose their crop to the night. No daylight means no crop. So now, no spell means no crop.
The apples fall into the basket next to her. She glances over at another section of trees, where Rainbow Dash is helping her. Unlike her, Rainbow Dash hadn't been able to receive her Element, so Nightmare Moon had let her off easy. That doesn't mean she's not strict with her. After all, they had come to realization when they got back to Ponyville that she represented the Element of Loyalty. Twilight must have been clever to figure it all out in a few mere seconds like that.
Rainbow Dash flies over, carrying a wooden basket of apples. She tips the basket over, allowing them to fall into the wagon. "I think this is enough for now, okay?"
"It's only been two hours." Applejack comments, rolling her eyes. Rainbow Dash may be in shape, but dang, she is lazy.
"Two hours of pure working. How do you work all day- I mean night?"
Applejack flinches. Ponies got in trouble for referring to the day and the sun. This causes her to look around worriedly. Sweet Apple Acres was huge, so guards could be around any corner, or tree. "I work all day because I profit out of it."
"Yeah, and how much am I making out of this again?"
Applejack thinks for a moment. "Depends on how much you work. For the time you've worked now, I would say... around twenty bits."
"What?!" She exclaims. "On the weather team I work for fifteen minutes and get paid more than this!"
Applejack straps herself onto the wagon, and begins pulling it up the mountain. "I'm just paying you what I get paid."
They were working on one of the mountains. So when Applejack get to the top that looks over the entire farm, it's not the view she wanted.
Several trees are on fire, and it's dangerously close to the barn, where her helpless family is sleeping. "Er, Rainbow Dash..."
The pegasus flies next to Applejack, and narrows her eyes. She looks all over the farm, not for more fire, but for the culprit. She sees a shadowy figure running, small bursts of magic coming from its horn. Rainbow Dash shoots into the skyline like a jet, then looks down at Applejack. "You go save your family, I'll chase down whoever did this!"
With a nod from Applejack, she flies across the sky, chasing down the figure. They're not getting away from the fastest flyer in Equestria that easily!
She eventually catches up with the running pony, determining it's a girl from its body shape. But its not the gender that confuses Rainbow Dash. It's the species. No guard of Nightmare Moon's is a regular pony. No, they're all bat ponies. So whoever did this isn't working for Nightmare Moon. She narrows her eyes, flying faster. What reason would they have then?
She tackles the pony, landing on the ground with a thud! She flips the unicorn onto their back, and stands over her. The unicorn wears a full body suit, complete with mask and everything. "Who are you?!" She demands, and rips the mask off.
Upon seeing who it is, she screams.
"Twilight?!"
Twilight charges her horn, blasting Rainbow Dash off of her. Rainbow Dash hits a tree, hearing a crack as her back collides with the hard bark. She lands on the ground, attempts to get up, but fails. She curses. Breaking her back was not in the plan.
Twilight keeps a slow pace in confronting her old friend, using magic to put the mask on. Had Rainbow Dash not known it was her, this would've been so much easier...
"Twilight, what are you doing? Why did you burn down the farm? Was it an accident?"
Twilight levitates a stone, keeping her slow pace. Rainbow Dash attempts to back up, but cries out as pain surges through her back. Twilight winces behind her mask. She doesn't want to hurt her friend. How could she, when Rainbow Dash was just trying to help?
Do it, Twilight.
She slams the rock onto Rainbow Dash's chest, causing the mare to shout in pain yet again.
Light the area on fire.
Rainbow Dash watches as Twilight's horn is engulfed in fire. Then, in a flash, the entire area surrounding Twilight lights on fire, including the trees and various plants. Rainbow Dash hops up, adrenaline stopping the pain. She begins galloping at Twilight, whom drops a burning tree right in front of her.
"Get back here, coward!" The pegasus shouts, flapping her wings to fly over the fallen tree.
Though, however, when she looks down on the ground, Twilight is gone.
All that's left is a burning farm and air thick with magic.
Twilight had been aware of her stalker the entire heist. Her mistress had been trailing her the entire time. Twilight had nearly laughed. She noticed the small puff of star-filled smoke. Nightmare Moon probably thought she was being stealthy as ever.
"Twilight Sparkle."
Twilight lifts her gaze to the large alicorn before her. The alicorn was chained to the wall by all hooves, and had a look of desperation on her face. Twilight raises and eyebrow. "Yes, foal?"
"I know you are not enjoying this. I've seen the way she treats you. The lack of hope in your eyes. I know you must pretend, and lie to survive, but please, just tell me, one day you will save yourself if I cannot save you."
Twilight looks at the former Princess, a look of disgust on her face. "Twilight, please...I know this is all an act I-"
"Enough! " Twilight shouts, rage filling her body. "I will not listen you trash like you! Do you expect this to all be an act? Is it not clear enough to you? Is it not in clarity that I have changed?!"
With a slight hesitation, she smacks the alicorn on the face with her hoof. Celestia is enraged. "You! Are you really truly evil, my young former student? Are you this hungry for knowledge that you'd turn to the dark?"
"Yes, I am." She replies simply, acting like it didn't hurt, and turns towards Nightmare Moon, who rests on the throne Twilight had seen Celestia on so many times. She trots over, and bows, like she's been told to do so many times.
"Ah, my beloved apprentice. I'm so happy to see you back all right. Have a nice time?"
"Yes, mistress, I did. Though one small question: How do they keep on growing apples without the sun? It doesn't make any sense." Twilight replies.
"Since we ponies rely heavily on agriculture, I took it upon myself to cast a spell on all the farms. This makes it so what they're producing can grow, even without sunlight. If you want a simplification, I enchanted all of their soil." Nightmare Moon explains, then glares at Twilight, which causes the young unicorn to lower herself further onto the ground. "When you attacked Rainbow Dash, you didn't do it with all your strength. Why?"
"I-I don't want to hurt her badly... she was one of my first friends... I just couldn't..." Twilight replies, stumbling on her words. "I'm sorry, please forgive me, I'll do better next time..."
Nightmare Moon laughs. "I can forgive you this time, as it was your first real mission. But do this again and there will be consequences, my apprentice."
"Thank you, mistress. It won't happen again." Twilight replies, and bounces up, done with bowing. "If you could excuse me, I'll make my leave over to the market. I believe my hours start soon, correct?"
"They do. You're always so punctual. I like that about you, Twilight. You may leave."
Twilight gallops out of the throne room, through the winding stairs and hallways of the castle she knew well, and eventually into the guard's barracks. Being a typical unicorn, she didn't fit in with the bat-ponies, as all of Celestia's royal guards had been imprisoned along with their ruler. Twilight throws on the armor made specifically for her. The body was different, and had her Cutie Mark imprinted on the chest. The helmet travelled to the tips of her eyes likes vines, and had a hole in the top for her horn. The different armor shows that she's Nightmare Moon's apprentice. Highest rank other than Nightmare Moon herself.
She leaves, entering the bustling city. Since night lasted forever, the adult ponies would sleep whenever they felt like it and be awake when they wanted to, so the streets were always full. Though Twilight assumes that it's what used to be the afternoon, as there are many fillies and colts galloping around, playing.
She passes by where Shining Armor lives. Since he was the brother of the royal apprentice, he had been excused from jail. He lives with his marefriend, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, who, after being degraded, is just called Cadence. Twilight tried to avoid them, generally. She hates being Nightmare Moon's apprentice, and not being able to tell those she loves about it hurts her even more. She just hopes that sooner or later, Shining Armor will know that she's doing this all for him.
Just as she's about to turn the corner, someone exits a house. And as it is her duty, she turns around to see who, and what they're doing. It's Shining Armor and Cadence, leaving for what Twilight assumes is a walk. They glance at her, and she immediately looks away.
"Hello Twilight! Having a nice evening?" Cadence calls, kindness in her voice.
Twilight turns to face them, and puts on an emotionless mask. "I am, thank you. How is your evening?"
"We're actually going for a little walk right now! Would you like to join us?"
Twilight could never believe how Cadence was always so kind to her, even after she betrayed he brother. But then again, Cadence was able to sense Twilight's undying love for her brother. Whenever she ever ran into Cadence, Twilight made sure she showed it. So Cadence could tell her brother how much she loved him. "Um... I'm not so sure. I'm kind of on duty, and you know how busy that can get."
Cadence laughs, and Shining Armor wears a smile. Before Twilight can say yes, some whispered words reach her mind. Do not accept, my apprentice. If you do, I will have to punish you.
"So Twily, you coming or not?" Shining Armor asks.
You must be harsh. Let them know you do not wish to see them.
"I'm sorry, brother , but I'm on guard duty. So of course I can't come! What did you think? I am the apprentice, second highest rank there is, so I don't have time to talk to mere peasants like you. Now scurry off before I arrest you for harassing the apprentice!" Twilight shouts at them. She tries her best to show burning love in her heart, while screaming furiously at them same time.
Shining Armor's eyes widen, but soon his face turns to disgust. He turns his head and begins trotting away, and Cadence flashes Twilight a quick smile before following her coltfriend.
Twilight turns the corner of the street, coming across the market place. Ponies go about their night, chatting amongst one another. When she enters, everypony stops dead and stares. Mares, afraid of her, usher their foals indoors, while others attempt to leave casually. Twilight sighs. Ever since she had become Nightmare Moon's apprentice, things had just gone downhill.
Continue moving, Twilight. So what if they're afraid of you? You should enjoy the feeling.
Twilight, choosing to follow orders, moves through the silent crowd, whom part like the red sea. Can't she just be feared as much as the regular guard? She, in fact, treated the citizens better than the other guards. "Continue your day," She says simply, which causes them to reluctantly return to what they were doing, while warily keeping an eye on her.
In the middle of the market now is a stage, where a noose attached to a plank of wood lies. There had only been a few public executions, all for severe crimes, yet the ponies still seemed to believe that they would be killed for doing the tiniest thing.
A pony behind you is stealing bits from the local stand while the shopkeeper is busy. You know what to do.
Twilight charges her horn, and on cue, whips around, and blasts the crook. He goes flying, crashing into the nearest building. Twilight gallops over to him quickly, looming over him with her horn glowing. "Trying to steal, huh? Not on my watch!" She exclaims, and as she was taught, slams both her fore hooves into his chest, causing the sound of bones breaking to be heard. He screams, and begins sobbing right away. "Did we not make it clear enough that you're punished for acts like this? Us guard have eyes everywhere, so don't do it again, because you won't get away with it. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes- please, just let me be!" He says between sobs. Twilight finds that having Nightmare Moon to tell her what to do is a blessing and a curse at times. Sometimes she helps her, yet sometimes she doesn't. Because if Twilight doesn't do what she's told, she's brought back to the castle and beaten. It's something she generally tries to avoid.
"Hey! You leave him alone!" A voice shouts, and Twilight whips around, horn charged. She must attack all offenders.
Her brother comes through the crowd, horn glowing as well. He glares at her. "You're not my sister anymore. You've turned into the maniacal monster, and I will not rest until you're defeated."
Twilight, shocked by the fact that her brother is challenging her, takes a step back. This is a fight she'd rather not fight.
Battle him Twilight, and don't stop until he surrenders. If he doesn't...kill him.
But I don't want to fight him... I just can't...
Once she thinks the thought, Twilight feels an electrical current surge through her veins, causing her to collapse to the ground. Alright, I'll do it! Please stop!
Battle him and come back. I'd like to have a word with you.
Twilight charges her horn. The entire crowd has cleared, forming a circle around the siblings. It would seem as though Nightmare Moon wants this fight to happen, as a force field has formed around the perimeter of the circle.
Twilight charges at her brother, firing multiple shots at a time. Her brother, skilled in magic, uses a shield to defend the attacks. He then fires a shot, which Twilight ducks under. She puts her horn to the ground, causing an extreme earthquake to happen where her brother is. He loses his balance, falling to the ground. She then fires another beam, hitting him in the side. Though Shining gets up quickly, readying more shots. Twilight, choosing to make this difficult, uses a spell to make the entire arena foggy.
Shining fires plenty of beams, unable to see. Even though they're being shot blindly, one stikes Twilight in the chest, causing her to go crashing to the ground. She forces herself up, and moves as quickly as possible towards her brother, and when she's close enough, bucks him straight into the force field.
The force field must have been made of electricity, because it holds Shining Armor in place for a few moments, causing his coat to singe, before dropping him. Twilight, picking up on this, levitates her brother, and begins to slam him to the force field plenty of times.
Good, good. Now release him, and if he doesn't get up, finish him.
Twilight throws her brother on the ground, who groans out of pain. "Are you ready to give up, brother?"
"Why are you doing this, Twi? B.B.B.F.F's, or did you forget about that?"
The mention of their pact causes Twilight's stomach to twist. Had she really just hurt her brother?
Twilight, teleport back * now*.
"Now, even if Twilight has become Nightmare Moon's apprentice, it does not mean that she's completely evil. Rainbow Dash, you were the one who fought with her. Did she seem hesitant at all, or perhaps a bit sorry when hurting you?" Rarity asks. They had all met up in the Carousel Boutique to discuss the matter at hand, though they can't seem to get anywhere.
"She nearly broke my back! She threw a stone at my shoulder, and blasting me a ton of times! I wouldn't say that she seemed sorry!" Rainbow Dash says, on the verge of shouting. Not only had her pride been stripped away, but one of her friends had turned evil. Though unlike the others, she wasn't going to get all sad over this. No, this wasn't something to be sad over. It was something to be angry over.
"Rainbow Dash, please! Maybe since she was Celestia's student, her student-hood got passed on to Nightmare Moon! Would it make sense, that perhaps whoever's in charge gets to teach her?" Fluttershy asks quietly.
"Ah don't know sugarcube... I'm not trying to be judgemental or anything, but she did burn down Sweet Apple Acres. And it's not like anypony would have a reason to."
"What if she was told to? Maybe she had no choice on the matter, or-"
"Ha, I doubt it! Fluttershy, I know you're really nice and all, but we barely knew Twilight. How do we know that she didn't trick us, and it was an act to defeat us?" Rainbow Dash interrupts.
"Uh, guys, I know her pretty well."
The four of them -Pinkie Pie was not present- turn around to see Spike, the young dragon who had been Twilight's previous assistant. "She kind of raised me, so I would assume..." He says, scratching the back of his head.
"Well, does this seem like something she would do?" Applejack asks.
As Spike thinks, the tension builds. It was obvious Twilight was now trained in combat, and could easily defeat them. And if she's going after them, destroying their homes and injuring their friends, what else could they do but try to stop it?
"No, it doesn't. If she's not forced, she was probably manipulated or persuaded to join forces with Nightmare Moon. I was with her for nearly all of her life. She hadn't spoken to Nightmare Moon, or any of her stray believers. In fact, when she first found out about Nightmare Moon, she was determined to stop her."
"So what does that mean?" Rainbow Dash demands.
"Something's going on. And I'm not sure if we're going to like what truth lies in store."
-Canterlot, Equestria-
Twilight doesn't scream. She's not allowed to show pain to her mistress.
Electrical surges were going through her body, and she was having trouble controlling herself. She's chained to the wall by her back hooves, in the library she lives in.
"Twilight, did I not tell you that you must do everything I say?"
The electrical current stops, allowing Twilight to speak. "You did. And I'm really, really sorry! I promise I'll do whatever you say just don't hurt my broth-"
Twilight is interrupted by a laugh. "Twilight, you're so naïve. Just remember, as long as you stay in line your brother remains safe. One step out and-" She slides her hoof across her neck, "-he's gone."
Nightmare Moon levitates what looks like a collar overs to Twilight, and fastens it on her neck. "Uh, what does this do, mistress?"
"You're going to have to learn how to do your job without my help. I'm going off on business to Appleloosa, so while you're off on missions, I've instructed one of my guard to watch over you. If you do something wrong, he'll press a button, which enables an electrical shock through this collar. So do as your supposed to, dear." The alicorn replies, putting her hoof on Twilight's cheek.
Twilight sighs, a tear threatening to well up in her eye.
Nightmare Moon notices it. "I realize it will be tough for you now. It always is. But trust me, soon, you'll enjoy being my apprentice. You'll eventually see things my way."
"No offense, but I don't think I ever will. I've been taught differently my entire life and to make a switch this big is like changing who I am." Twilight replies. She winces, realized what she said could be rebellious in a sense, but feels no pain.
"I am not evil, my apprentice. You may believe that I am, but I assure you, these ponies need to learn the beauty of the night." She pauses. "Would it make you feel better if I brought you someone of your choice? Someone who you could pour your heart out to, and explain everything? Though whoever you may choose will be forced to stay here forever, Twilight. They will not be allowed out of the castle, and they may not speak a peep about your situation to others. Anypony who you feel would be okay with this?"
Twilight considers it. Somepony with patience, somepony who she can trust with all her heart, somepony who would understand...
"May you bring me my baby dragon, Spike? He's currently residing in Ponyville, I would assume." She replies, confident in her choice. Spike is one of the few creatures she knows who's loyal enough to go through with this. Rainbow Dash, sure, she represents the Element of Loyalty, but Twilight finds she isn't the type to sit still. She would try to escape with Twilight the first chance she got, and only end up getting both of them hurt in the end. Spike may be a baby, but he's smart. Twilight raised him to be like that.
Nightmare Moon's horn glows, and she takes the chains off of Twilight. "You may rest now Twilight, and when you wake up, your dragon will be right by your side."
When the alicorn leaves, Twilight crawls into bed, content on her choice. Spike was one of the few creatures she knew who would go through with this for her. Who was loyal enough to stick by her side. Sure, Rainbow Dash was the Element of Loyalty, but to Twilight, she doesn't seem like the type of pony to sit still for very long. She would probably try to escape with Twilight the first chance she got, which would only end up hurting the both of them. But Spike wouldn't do that. No, he's smart, just like Twilight raised him to be.
For the first time in a few months, Twilight falls asleep with a smile on her face.
Sugarcube Corner, Ponyville-
"Pinkie Pie... Please wake up..."
"She's not gonna wake up if you say it like that! WAKE UP PINKIE PIE!
"Rainbow Dash, stop it. We ain't helping her if we're just screaming at her while she sleeps!"
The pink mare's eyes open just a crack.
"See Applejack? Yelling at her did help!"
She blinks, her blue eyes having trouble resting on one spot for more than a few moments. She catches the blurry figures of a few ponies looking down on her. "Oh, hello girls."
"We brought you a present!" Fluttershy exclaims, and pulls a balloon out of her saddlebag. "Do you remember how to blow these up, or should we show you?"
The young mare's eyes dart around the room, but then rest on the ceiling, and don't look at another place. "I remember."
"Oh, great!" Rarity exclaims, and levitates the balloon to the earth pony. "Please, show us what you can do!"
They all watch in anticipation. Pinkie Pie hadn't really been acting like herself ever since Nightmare Moon became ruler, so they had been trying desperately to bring her back. They had thrown her parties, given her plenty of cupcakes, and told her about who she is. Though it seems as though there's a new Pinkie. One with a dull, straight mane, and a look of depression and isolation where ever she does. A Pinkie who slept most of the time, who you had to force to eat, and to talk. They weren't going to bear the news of the little revelation about Twilight until she was feeling better, and more like herself. They didn't want Pinkie to sink lower than she already was.
The dull-haired mare blows into the balloon. She even manages to make it dull, blowing into it several times to blow it up, rather than just once like she used to be able to. When the balloon is filled, she lets go, allowing the balloon to go in many directions, until it drops to the ground, empty of life.
This causes Rainbow Dash to scream in frustration.
"How can you not remember who you are?! You were a pink pony, always bouncing around, being super random and weird, yet always fun, and now you're this? What happened to you, Pinkie Pie?"
"I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash." She replies, voice lacking emotion.
"You're not sorry, Pinkie. You don't feel emotion in this state, do you? You're almost... dead. You have died, yet your body continues to live." Rainbow says, hanging her head down in defeat.
Some shouting is heard outside, and everyone except Pinkie runs to the window, trying to get a glimpse.
A group of guards surround a figure, leading them to a chariot. "Who are they taking now?" Rarity asks, stuck at the back.
The chariot is parked right in front of Sugarcube Corner. The girls watch in anticipation as the guards step aside, and they're able to see who it is.
"Why do they have Spike?" Rainbow Dash asks, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know, but I don't like the sight of it. Come one everypony, let's go find out what's going on!" Applejack exclaims. They all leave Pinkie's bedroom with reluctance, and once their out, sprint down the stairs and out the door.
"Where are you taking me?" Spike asks, fear and worry obvious in his voice.
"That is confidential, peasant. You will now step into the chariot without protest." The guard replies, and shoves Spike onto the chariot roughy.
"You just wait a minute!" Rainbow Dash shouts, and flies towards the guard, putting her nose directly on his. "Now just where are you taking him?!"
In response, she gets a buck to the face. "That is none of your business, weakling. Now scurry off like the trash you are."
The chariot takes off, Spike trying to shout something down at the mares. Though his voice trails off and they're unable to hear him any longer. "Where did they take him?" Fluttershy asks.
Rarity cries out in exaggerated despair. "How could they take Spikey- Wikey?!"
"Not how, but why." Applejack says, and they watch the chariot disappear in the clouds, accompanied by Spike's screams.
-Canterlot, Equestria-
Twilight awakes to loud talking downstairs. The library she lives in has two floors, and since she sleeps on the top floor, she's surprised that someone could be so loud that she could hear them as clear as she does. To her, it must be some guards to retrieve her upon Nightmare Moon's request, so she's about to get out of bed when she hears a voice she recognizes.
She hears hooves going up the stairs, and some more talking from the voice she hasn't heard for a long time. It seems to say the same thing every time, despite the answer it gets. "Why am I here?"
"You were requested to be seen."
"Can you be a little more descriptive?"
"You're question will be answered once you enter through this doorway."
Twilight hears the doorknob turn. She flips over, closes her eyes, steadies her breathing, and pretends to sleep.
"You will be living with Twilight from now on. Either she or Nightmare Moon will deliver the rules to you." The guard says, then steps back, and slams the door, which causes Spike to jump in the air a little.
"Twilight!" He exclaims, and jumps on the bed. Twilight turns around quickly, throws off her covers, and embraces Spike in a hug. The hug lasted long, but had a mixture of emotions. The hug had all the emotions they had felt over the past months. Sadness, guilt, rage, pain... yet after all their emotions are done, the happy feeling of seeing each other again overtakes them, and turns the hug into a happy one.
"Spike... I'm so glad you're here. You don't understand how lonely I've been. I can finally talk to someone about my feelings."
Twilight braces herself, yet no electrical current comes. She's allowed to be honest with Spike. "Twilight, what's been going on? Why are you working for Nightmare Moon? Why did you brun down Sweet Apple Acres, why did you hurt Rainbow Dash? Why?"
Twilights sighs. "Let me explain to you what's going on..."