Prologue
As I stood by the door in Princess Luna's quarters, my post for the last 23 years, I noticed the day drawing towards a close. I glided towards her bed to awaken her. "Awake my mistress," I said gently form without the curtains, "The hour for you to raise the pale one into the sky draws nigh."
"We thank you Seth," she said from within. "We heed your dutiful wakening of us." A black alicorn, much like Seth himself, but slightly older and with black and deep blue floaty mane instead of his own hellsfire hair, stepped out of the curtained area where she slept and adorned her royal crown and chest plate. They walked together in silence to the palace balcony. Luna's sister Celestia was already there to lower the golden one once the pale was raised.
"Good evening sister," Celestia greeted her, mutually ignoring Seth.
"Good evening," Luna replied. "There was something-"
Could you just raise the pale one already so we can get some sleep sister?" Celestia asked impatiently, cutting her off.
"Understood sister. We will call to the pale one." Luna's horn glowed deep purple as she concentrated. Slowly, the moon rose into the sky, though the sun still dwarfed it. Seeing this, Celestia also concentrated, her horn glowing pure white. Once the two heavenly bodies had swapped their positions, Luna tried again to ask her sister something, but again was cut off by Celestia walking away.
"Permissible for me to inquire what is troubling you, my lady?" I asked once she had left.
"It is nothing we wish to trouble you with faithful servant," Luna replied. "Although it would please us if you got a meal for us to consume."
"It shall be done," I said with a bow. The trip to the kitchens was a short one and the cooks had memorized the royalty's meal schedules. All I had to do was deliver her food to her.
As I reentered the balcony's vestibule, Luna called out, as normal, to be sure it was me. I responded and walked out into the night and set the dish before her.
You asked earlier if we would tell you what was wrong," Luna said, not sounding quite herself. "Do you still wish to know Seth?"
I nodded, then remembering that she was facing away from me I responded, "Yes, my lady."
"We are troubled by a feeling inside of us. It is like us, but not entirely. It loathes our sister and is envious of how all the common folk enjoy her day and ignore our night. It says we are worthless and that our sister hates us. It is strong this night. We fear that we cannot control its emotion. We fear that it will take over our mind. We wish for-" Luna was cut off again, but this time it seemed that she had stopped herself and was having difficulty remaining composed. Then, her body grew. She was almost the same, but larger, and an evil aura emanated from her. Tuning to me she smiled, a slow sadistic smile. "Tonight, we end this silly cycle of day and night Seth Mythrion. Tonight we destroy Celestia. Follow us faithful guard."
With that, she took of from the balcony, me following her on a slow spiral around to Princess Celestia's personal quarters. We landed on the windowsill and stepped in. "Arise foolish sister of mine. Arise and face me in battle," this new Luna shouted across the room.
Guards rushed in, but at the non-verbal command, I barred their way. Celestia awoke and stepped into the glow of the moon behind Luna. "Who are you?" She asked in the most regal tone possible after having been asleep.
"We are Nightmare Moon," Luna responded. "We believe that our night gets to little credit, and so are removing the day to solve this dilemma."
At this, the guards again tried to get past me, but my glaive and magic held them at bay as the royalty stared at each other angrily. Their horns crossed, each glowing with magic. They were evenly matched, despite Celestia's 5-year advantage. Eventually, they broke apart. "You leave us with no choice, one who claims to be my sister," Celestia growled, taking another step back. "We invoke the rights of the Royalty of Equestria, and give our soul unto Harmony's embrace. You who want eternal night, be banished for one thousand years to the moon you so love. Element Caress!"
With the lack of Luna, my orders were nonexistent. I unbarred the path the guards sought to take. "Who was that Mythrion? Why did you obey her commands?" Celestia questioned.
"Luna. Because she was Luna," I replied.
"That was not Luna. She herself said so. However, as that is obviously what you were lead to believe, you shall be banished, not killed. With our power as Princess, we decree this: 'If the alicorn Seth Mythrion is seen within the borders of Equestria, he is to be killed.'" She turned to face me. "You have half a day Mythrion. Make yourself scarce."
"I might leave. I don't really feel like it right now though. Maybe tomorrow," I replied, not caring that she was the Princess. "My mistress was just banished, so I'm not really in the mood to travel yet."
"Then you shall be dead come this time on our next day," She replied firmly.
"Who shall execute me? Both You and I know my strength in combat is greater than yours, though I be 52 seasons your younger. The number of guards that would fall at mine hand would nowhere near equal the one who would fall by you. I will leave once I am ready to, and no sooner." With this, I turned and left.
Celestia glared after me. "Erase his name from all documents. He never existed." Once her guards had left her, she whispered maliciously down the corridor I had taken. "May your head forever be cursed Seth Mythrion. May you forget everypony you meet once you leave their company, and every place you go once you leave its walls. May this curse lay forever squarely on your head."
A/N: I own nothing in this fanfic except the character of Seth Mythrion and a few others I might add later.
As a warning, I am as unoriginal as a cliché. I will use other people's ideas A LOT.
To anyone that caught the reference in Celestia's chant where she banished NM: Congratulations. You have about as much of a life as I do.