Night Class One: Celestia’s Nightmare

Fire and screams pierced Celestia’s hearing and vision as a monstrous form stepped into the city square. Celestia glared at the thing. “What have you done to my sister, foul creature?” She growled.

The vaguely alicorn-shaped ebony creature before her laughed haughtily, baring monstrous fangs. “I’ve simply given her what she truly desires, deep in the lowest recesses of her heart.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes, summoning up magical lances of solar flame. “Tell me where she is, you monster! If you don’t tell me, I will destroy you!”

“Oh, don’t you recognize her? Sure, I’ve made a few changes, but Little Luna is right here,” the creature said, unmoving. A sadistic smile curled her lips up. “I’m surprised you didn’t notice her malcontent earlier. So much jealousy and rage in this filly, it’s quite delicious.”

Celestia gaped. “It can’t be... You can’t be her! You’re not my Luna! What did you do!?”

The creature’s smile twisted further as it started to laugh maniacally. “I keep telling you, ‘Tia, but you just don’t listen. I’m controlling your sister. It’s really not all that difficult, since I’m not really doing anything she hasn’t thought about doing herself. You see, when something like me comes upon a creature with as much... shall we say, angst, as dear Luna... Well, it’s difficult to pass up the opportunity. And with me holding this body hostage, there’s no way in Hell you’ll do anything to-” the creature broke off its taunting as a shaft of solar fire immolated one of its outstretched wings. It looked at the annihilated member and rolled its eyes, sighing. “You really don’t get it, do you? This is your sister’s body. Just because I’m in control doesn’t mean you can hurt me. Any attacks you make will just damage Luna. So, please stop hitting me with sunfire and let me take over Equestria with eternal night, ‘kay?”

“Luna would rather die than allow a monster like you to use her for these ends,” Celestia said, her fury creating a palpable aura of heat.

A lone soldier galloped up behind the creature. “Fell creature! You shall not harm our Princess Celestia!” He unsheathed a sword, gripping it in his mouth, and charged.

“Hmm? Oh, another annoying little gnat to be swatted,” the creature said, looking over its shoulder. Its manic smile began to re-form. A tendril of darkness shot out from the creature’s mane, impaling the soldier through the throat before dissipating. The soldier stopped in his tracks as his sword clattered to the ground. He tried to call out, but all that came was blood. He took only two steps before falling unceremoniously to the marble floor. “Oh, what a shame, look at all that blood I’ll have to clean up when we’re done here.” She turned back to Celestia. “Now, Princess, I believe it’s time for you to die. It’s nothing personal, but you’ll probably end up being a thorn in my side that I’ll eventually have to deal with anyway. Might as well get you out of the way now,” it said in a tone that would have been pleasant but for the killing intent behind it.

Celestia felt a wave of bloodlust that completely broke her fiery aura as the murderous monster began to bear down on her. What is this overwhelming power!? Each step the monster took, Celestia felt smaller and smaller, as if each slow, deliberate hoofstep chiseled away more of her confidence. The monster stopped only inches from Celestia’s face, and all she could do was tremble in terror. She could see razor-sharp tendrils of darkness extending from the thing’s mane, shooting out behind it before arcing back and rocketing toward Celestia. She wrenched her eyes shut in anticipation of excruciating pain.

But none came. She cautiously opened her eyes, fearing even to breathe. Am I dead? Is it all over? Did I lose?

No. The shadowy spikes were there, less than an inch from Celestia’s skin, one lined up to impale her eye. But they were unmoving. The monster screwed up its face in rage. “NO! I AM NIGHTMARE MOON! I WILL NOT BE STOPPED BY THE CONSCIENCE OF A FILLY!”

Then, the face softened, and Celestia recognized Luna for the first time since she first encountered the monster. She wore a desperate but determined smile. “You cannot harm my sister, Creature of the Abyss,” she said weakly. “Sister, please, you must do something for Us. We cannot contain the monster for long. You must take up the Elements, and banish this creature along with Us. We can only prevent it from bringing you harm, but you must go quickly. We fear we are not strong enough to hold it back from killing innocents. Now! GO!”

Celestia, no longer oppressed by the aura of bloodlust, nodded to her sister and ran to the treasury. Tears streamed down her face.

Behind her, she could hear that the monster had taken over again. “YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME! I WON’T LET IT END LIKE THIS!!” The outburst was followed by the screams of ponies. Innocent ponies. Dying. Being rent asunder.

But she couldn’t let it stop her. Luna was right. She needed the Elements. But is this really the only way?

Of course it is! Luna is sacrificing herself to give you the chance to save Equestria! You have to take it! She was tempted to stop for this voice not her own, but the situation demanded she push forward.

She flung herself into the treasury, where she held the essences of the Elements of Harmony. “Please, Elements, you have to help me stop this monster!” She called out. Multicolored orbs of light shot out from amid the treasures. They began to resonate. “That’s right, we must banish Nightmare Moon, but we have to save my sister!” The orbs darkened, resonating discordantly. “What!? You must be able to do something for her! I can’t banish her alongside the monster! She’ll be trapped with it for a thousand years!” The orbs flared up in intensity, washing Celestia with an oppressive heat. “B-but... She’s my sister... Can’t you do anything to save her?” She asked weakly. Again, the orbs dimmed. “I understand,” she said, tears pouring from her eyes. She dashed back out of the treasury, the orbs following close behind.

“Nightmare Moon! Turn and face me!” Celestia shouted, having caught up to the monster as it cut a swath of bodies down the streets of Canterlot.

Nightmare Moon turned, malice shining in its eyes. “You... You have the Elements... I won’t let you banish me, though! You won’t stop me, Celestia! Neither you nor your foal of a sister have the strength to stop me, even with the Elements!”

A righteous fury burned in Celestia’s eyes. “You will not have your way with Equestria, Nightmare Moon. I won’t let you use my sister for your own ends.”

Nightmare Moon let loose a wicked cackle. “I already told you, Solar Princess, your Elements of Harmony are too weak to stop me as I am now! I have complete control!”

Not for long.

Bands of force encircled Nightmare Moon, binding her in place. “What!? What is this? Show yourself, vermin!”

As you wish. What looked to be a filly-sized pony made of light rocketed out of the sky and impacted the monster, its hoof penetrating through Nightmare Moon’s neck. It twisted the hoof, and Nightmare Moon screamed in agony, though no blood was present. The filly-sized light-pony leapt off, alighting on a nearby steeple.

“You FOAL! What did you DO TO ME!?” Nightmare Moon’s voice wavered and cracked, but lost none of its intensity.

You are now integrated with Princess Luna. Her consciousness has control equal to your own. Now, Celestia, the Elements can work on her! Use them! Fulfill Luna’s wish!

Celestia lowered her head and intensified her glare. “I don’t know who you are, but I must thank you. Now! Elements!” The orbs of light glowed blindingly bright, rising up and orbiting Celestia. Ribbons of color shot from each of the Elements, constricting Nightmare Moon completely. They shifted to orbit the monster and began to spin furiously, forming fiery white contrails.

“No! You foals! You cannot do this to me! I will return! I will destroy you all!!!” Nightmare Moon protested furiously, but in vain. The Elements brought their light down upon her, and she vanished. There was silence for a moment, then a deafening wail as a beam of energy was blasted at the moon by the Elements.

Celestia woke with a start. She glanced around. It was her study. She’d been asleep. A dream... Luna... You wouldn’t have let me have this dream if I hadn’t-- She buried her face in her hooves and sobbed. “I’m so sorry, sister...”

Author's Note

Just a dream? Or a memory long since buried because holding onto it is too painful?
She seeks to atone for what she perceived to be a fault on her part. Does she punish herself unnecessarily?
Also, an important distinction: the entity known as Nightmare Moon is a crude and psychotic possessor spirit, and only becomes as "regal" as we observe in the show (and, obviously, later in this story) AFTER it was effectively fused with Luna's consciousness.