My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Night
Chapter Eight: Nightmare, Everlasting
"I heard this story…back when I was a filly," Pinky began out of nowhere. Nopony could sleep or get out of their bed that most terrible of nights. For a time, it seemed as though the nightmares would never end. "They said that there was this Pony, and he was the wisest and strongest pony in all of Equestria. But then bad stuff started to happen…Not to him, but to the ponies he cared about. He thought he was okay for a long time, being alone. But then he started to get really sad, and they said that his mind stopped working because it was crying all the time. He was never heard from again, but they think that, if he hadn't been all-alone, maybe he'd still be smart and powerful…Goodnight, everypony. Love you and see you in the morning."
Twilight glanced over at her friend as she lay down and curled up atop her temporary bed. How can she still be so happy, even during a night like this? she asked herself.
"How much longer 'til the Sun comes up?" Rainbow Dash declared to Twilight.
"Not nearly soon enough," the Unicorn answered with a slight smile as she rolled onto her side to face her friend.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Dash replied, her hooves tucked under her head.
"Anything, Dashy," Twilight happily answered, as if no one else were present.
The Pegasus stared up at the shadow-covered ceiling. "I've been thinking about that filly Applejack's little sister hangs out with: Scootaloo, or something." Twilight nodded her head. "And it's just…yeah, he hangs out with the other ponies, but…she's got no parents, brothers, or sisters, and she's really young." The young Unicorn stared intently at her friend, unsure of what was coming next. I wanna be just like Rainbow Dash when I grow up! Twilight had heard the Pegasus filly happily cry out while with her friends. She's so cool and strong, and never cries! "Maybe…maybe I should…"
Suddenly, a flash of dark light struck across the skies, and all who slept were awakened. As if compelled, everypony left their homes and walked towards the center of town. Within an instant, they found themselves in Canterlot under a darkened Moon. "Look!" Twilight called out. "It's Princess Celestia!" Stepping out onto a walkway surrounded by golden railing, the Princess of Day gazed out at her subjects, confused. Applejack and Apple Bloom, Rarity and Sweetie Belle, Pinky Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Spike gathered around Twilight Sparkle as the winds grew stronger. Every citizen of Ponyville was standing in the massive courtyard, none of them knowing how they arrived, or why. Looking around, Twilight spotted a sentry, possibly her brother, Shining Armor. Violent Rose stood her ground, ordering her unit to do the same. Scared and confused, the Cutie-Mark Crusaders ran to Miss Cheerilee's side for comfort. Growing nervous herself, Derpy ran to Miss Cheerilee and tightly hugged her leg.
"Celestia!" a furious mare's voice screamed, echoing throughout the kingdom. Every pony gazed into the sky as what appeared to be a falling star soared through the air. Coming to a sudden stop, its white-fire stream dissipating, the star revealed itself to be Night Mare Moon in all of her terrifying power and rage. Her powerful black wings flapped with such force a small wind storm began to form in their wake as the dark Alicorn's serpent eyes focused on the Princess of Day. "Sister! I have thirsted for a thousand years to exact my revenge on you! It is this night that your reign of fear and hypocrisy comes to an eternal end!"
Her anger awakened, Princess Celestia spread her wings and took flight, creating a powerful typhoon that nearly shook Equestria. "Even after all these years, you are still a slave to the darkness!" she declared without fear or weakness. "I will never forgive myself for sending you away for all those years, but none shall suffer your wrath again!" Moon stood her ground, refusing to flinch. "Your defiance and wickedness shall not go unpunished, sister!"
"I will live in your shadow no longer!" the dark Alicorn cried out, exposing her razor-fangs. "The night shall last forever as you finally serve your penance!" Night Mare Moon flew forward, ready to consume her sister's light once and for all.
Her shining white horn pointed outward, Princess Celestia commanded the unending light of the Sun to generate from her body, blinding Moon and causing her to crash into another tower. "Your hatred and jealousy only make you weak," she declared. "My sister, no pony shall forgive you for this. Surrender now and I will take you back."
"How merciful!" Moon scoffed as she recovered from the collision. "Dearest big sister Tia always helping little Luna out of her messes: But your time in power has made you weak! I do not need you anymore!" Casting her shadows upon her sister, Night Mare Moon moved silently and drove her armored hooves into Celestia's back, knocking her onto her stomach. "Stay down."
Remembering her duty, Pinky Pie coughed out the envelope and began to hand it to Twilight. However, the young Unicorn was too shocked to take in anything but her beloved princesses battling one another as nopony ever should. Forced to endure the horror, Applejack and Rarity hid the young ones' eyes as Fluttershy did the same for Spike. "Scoot?" Rainbow Dash called out, knowing the young Pegasus needed someone now more than ever. "Scoot!"
"Even now, you bring disgrace and shame upon Mother and Father!" Princess Celestia tearfully exclaimed, throwing her corrupted sister back and rising back onto her hooves. Pressing Moon's wings against the bricks, the Princess of Day attempted to hold her down. "It does not have to be this way, sister. You have always been my equal. In doing this, you will only inspire fear in the others."
"I was a fool to resist before," Night Mare Moon snarled, forming a sadistic smile on her face as her body became a dark mist and passed through Celestia's hooves. "Fear is all they had to give…I know now that it was all I ever needed!" With that, the two rose into the sky and clashed hooves as they flew.
Under a sky filled with millions of glistening stars, the citizens of Equestria watched as Celestia and Luna: The Sun and the Moon: Day and Night battled one another with all life at stake. Harmony was shattered once more, and each strike was like thunder on the unforgiving winds of war. The young ones cried and hid their eyes as the elders prayed for their beloved princess. At last, Rainbow Dash found Scootaloo, took her into her hooves and wings, and held her tightly and lovingly. "Don't worry, kiddo," she calmly declared, closing her own eyes. "You're safe: I swear it." Confused at first, Scootaloo closed her eyes and found comfort in she for whom she had prayed and searched for: a big sister.
"All my life I was made silent!" Moon angrily declared, taking a waiting position in the air. "Always kept in your shadow while you were capable of loving nothing but yourself!"
"I made mistakes, but all of my love was yours, Luna!" Princess Celestia shouted out. "Even when you were trapped on the Moon, you never cried alone!" The two sisters looked at one another, each of them cut, bruised, and bleeding. Miles above the world, the two princesses that loved and laughed together as children now stood as mortal enemies. "May the All-Maker forgive us."
"May Tartarus' fires burn you forever!" Moon hollered, knowing she had no soul to lose. In a blaze of hatred and anger, the dark Alicorn lunged at her sister, sank her fangs into her neck, and violently forced them both into a rapid descent.
Seeing only a shimmer of light falling to the ground below, the citizens of Equestria could only pray their Princess was still in control. In an effort to save both lives, Fluttershy readied her wings, only to be stopped by a tearful Applejack, who could only shake her head in hopelessness. As the sisters spiraled downward, Twilight felt her world slow and fade as the truth became clear and painfully loud. Dash covered the little Pegasus' eyes as Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy did the same for those close to them. Unable to handle what was happening, Vinyl turned her music up so loud it nearly hurt, adjusted her sunglasses, and tried to hide from the unavoidable.
At last, the royal Alicorns collided with the castle, shattering its walkway and silencing all life. For an instant, the light of both day and night was extinguished. Then, from the smoke and cinders, Celestia and Night Mare Moon rose to their feet as their crowns fell and shattered. Looking into the other's eyes, the sisters knew how it all must end. Without so much as a sound, Moon lunged forward, and impaled Celestia's heart with her black horn. Her breath quaking before falling still, the Princess of Day opened her mouth in shock and pain as her sister refused to withdraw her fatal strike. Turning her head and guiding her sister, Night Mare Moon walked Celestia to the ledge of the rooftop, smiled intently, and pulled her horn out of her sister's wound. Gazing at the young sister she loved, Princess Celestia experienced nothing but distance as she fell to the ground. "No!" Twilight hollered with all of her might as her heart shattered. "No! Princess, please, no!" Running to her beloved mother's side, the young Unicorn tightly hugged her and attempted to treat her wounds. "It'll be okay, my queen," she nervously recited, stroking Celestia's wings between treatments. "You'll be okay. I believe in you. We all believe in you. Oh, no…" Spilling her bottle of healing salts, Twilight dropped into the grass to try picking up the grains. "I'm sorry. Please, don't…"
"Twilight…" Queen Celestia whispered in a voice free of any anger or pain. "Know that I love you more than anything else in this world…I pardon you for all the small mistakes you let break your heart…but only if you forgive all my mistakes." Openly sobbing, Twilight nodded her head and pardoned her queen. "Remember…keep the Elements of Harmony within you and your loved ones." As the night grew colder, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinky Pie approached their beloved queen, ordering Spike and the fillies to stay back. "Thank you all for what you have done. I will always love you…and we will see one another again someday." Allowing a single, shining tear to slip from her weak and fading eyes, Queen Celestia let out a sigh of great relief that left a restful smile upon her face, and closed her eyes one last time. The Sun would never rise again. No longer able to cope with her pain and sorrow, Twilight Sparkle cried out with a force that seemed to move the very walls of the castle. Her friends comforted her, but nothing could take this away. Fillies and colts cried as mares and stallions sobbed and tried to accept the nightmarish new reality before them. The land itself was devastated, spreading the pain of the battle.
"Princess Celestia is dead!" Night Mare Moon joyously called out with a voice of darkness and thunder. "No longer will her lies or oppression rule over any of you…No longer will her Sun burn those in its wake! As your new queen, my night will last for eternity! You shall all live and die under the loving and eternal glow of my most-beloved Moon! Celestia's age is over!" Cackling with great cruelty, the monster claimed all that she had ever wanted. With the filly named Luna nowhere in sight, Night Mare Moon stood alone in darkness and wicked power: Kinslayer. Monster.
"Close your eyes, Scootaloo," Rainbow Dash instructed the young one before flaring her wings. "I don't want you to see this." Gritting her teeth and swallowing her tears, the Pegasus began to lunge into the air at the one she hated. Suddenly, she felt Applejack's grip and watched her friend sorrowfully shake her head. The Pegasus swore under her breath, tightened her expression, and jerked her body away from her friend's grasp.
Her spirit broken, Pinky handed Twilight the unopened message. Without even looking at the command she had failed, Twilight cast the note into a nearby fire. The other mares watched the paper burn, taking with it all the hope they came to know and love. For the first time in their lives, everything felt hopeless. The unthinkable had happened, and there was nothing they could do.
Seeing all the sorrow and suffering she had caused, Night Mare Moon smiled warmly, spread her wings, and ascended into the sky as the one and only queen of Canterlot. Surrounded by the merciless screams of silence, Twilight could only watch as Shining Armor and his stallions, under the order of Princess Cadance, carefully wrapped the body of their beloved queen in the purest of silk and reverently carried her away. Turning away from the other sentries, Violent Rose hid her face and wept alone. As she had done for him time and time again, Spike wrapped Twilight in his arms in an attempt to comfort her. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo sat down next to their suffering friends, vowing not to leave them. Applejack held her little sister close, both crying into one another's mane. Having lost the will to dare, the orange Pony placed her cowboy hat back on her head, holding her flowing mane back. Rarity cradled Sweetie Belle like an infant, trying to wipe away each of the little filly's tears. Nudging Pinky with the crown of her head, Fluttershy led the pink Pony over to Vinyl, who was sitting by herself with her headphones and lightly cracked sunglasses on. Knowing the white Pony was suffering, Fluttershy gently pulled Vinyl's 'phones down and fluently pulled off her glasses with a gentle touch. At first, Vinyl kept her eyes closed, but soon opened them, letting her tears fall and exposing her flawless ruby-colored eyes. Vulnerable for the first time, the white Pony could no longer help but reveal the white horn and powerful wings she had kept a secret from all, even Octavia. Helping the newly-revealed Alicorn onto her hooves, Pinky and Fluttershy set out to find her friend, whom she had become separated from during the battle. Taking a stand, Derpy lovingly hugged the fillies and colts flocking to her and Miss Cheerilee. Although they wanted nothing more than to cry and hide, Sweetheart, Minty, and Skydancer helped the wounded to the best of their ability.
"Come on, everypony," Rainbow Dash declared, gathering Spike, the Mane 6, and the young ones together. Her own strength fading, the Pegasus' voice was weighed down by sorrow. "There's nothing left here for us." No longer able to control her emotions, Pinky leaned against Fluttershy and cried openly into her wing. The sunny Pegasus comforted her friend, crying her own tears.
Within hours, the queen, wrapped in sacred silk and veiled, was placed on a small raft, followed by the stallion whose life was taken by the same monster. As the two sailed down the canal leading to the sea beyond Canterlot, the only light came from the candles held by a massive procession of mourners, and the only sound came from the cries of the same mourners. The Wondercolts flew above the ceremony to prepare the skies as the Royal Guard stood their ground to protect against intruders. Refusing to stand with his team, Shining Armor remained by his little sister's side the entire time. Clad and veiled entirely in black, Princess Cadance shed tears like raindrops as her beloved Queen was taken from her yet again. Spike no longer needed to wear his cloak, as there was no separation among the mourners.
Finally, the time came for the ceremony to reach its end: Ancient priests and sorcerers lined up and recited chants and prayers in ancient Canterlotian. In response to their prayers, the body of Queen Celestia became a bright flame that flew into the heavens and created a new and bright star to shine forevermore above Equestria, followed by the stallion, whose soul settled next to his ancestors. "May our most-beloved queen shine down upon us day and night," Princess Cadance recited tearfully. "That her soul continue to inspire and guide us, even through our darkest of hours. May we always hold her, and all those who have died, in our hearts and minds, despite their distance from us. Thank you for all you have done, and may we live our lives in memory and love of you all. With the guidance of the All-Maker, may you find peace eternal within the loving embrace of the Celestial Embassy. Rest now, forever and ever." Everypony closed their eyes, lowered their heads, and kneeled on the cold stone ground.
"My princess," Violent Rose reverently declared after nearly an hour of silence. "I apologize, but we must go. It is no longer safe here."
"Make sure the ponies are protected," Cadance ordered with compassion in her voice. "All of them…and do not neglect the young dragon."
"Yes, my mistress," the sentry agreed, leading the pink, glistening Alicorn to the decided checkpoint.
From a distance, Night Mare Moon watched the ceremony, unable to understand what she was feeling. The Reign of the Moon would begin soon, and the Eternal Night had only just begun. Her heart long-frozen, the dark Alicorn cast everything aside and took to flight once more.
Just as they had arrived in Canterlot, the citizens of Ponyville found themselves back home once again. The night had grown cold and lonely, and the stars were becoming faint. Looking up at her hero, Scootaloo realized she had another obligation. "Rainbow Dash," she said, her voice scarcely above a whisper. "Thanks for looking after me. I need to get back home, though. My friends'll start to worry."
"You can't go by yourself," the blue Pegasus replied with concern in her voice.
"She won't be alone, guys," Derpy volunteered, gathering Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and the Cutie-Mark Crusaders together. "I'll make sure they all get home safe and sound."
"Thanks, Derpy," Applejack warmly declared with a smile. Derpy smiled back and nodded. "Be a good filly, okay, Apple Bloom?" The filly promised, and followed the bubbly Pegasus and her friends.
"You too, Sweetie," Rarity called out as well.
Scootaloo paused for a second and nervously looked to Rainbow Dash for advice and reassurance. Hesitant at first, the Pegasus placed her hoof on the orange filly's shoulder. "You'll be okay," she promised. "Derpy won't let anything happen to you." Rainbow Dash quickly gave Scootaloo a hug, and as the young Pegasus turned to join the others, she whispered something that sounded like "I love you."
Glancing over her shoulder, Fluttershy saw Vinyl, her wings and horn exposed, speaking with Octavia before the two hugged. Pinky saw it as well, and hugged Fluttershy in order to thank and congratulate her.
"We had better get inside," Rarity declared, looking up at the swirling clouds in the blackened sky.
Applejack led the group inside Twilight and Spike's home, followed closely by Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinky Pie, and Rarity. Still in a state of shock, Twilight stood still until Spike took her hoof in his claw and guided her inside. Once everypony was indoors, they locked the doors, covered the windows, and made their way into the library. Once everypony was seated, the harsh reality truly set in, leaving them all devastated. Deep down, they were all in tears.
"Where do we go from here?" Rarity asked, having lost all ambition.
"All honesty?" Applejack began, tilting her hat over her timid eyes. "Ah've got nothin'." Everypony looked to one another for any sort of answer. "Queen Celestia's…never comin' back, Luna betrayed all of us, and Ah don' think the Sun's ever gonna shan again."
"I just can't believe she's gone," Twilight choked out. "This…this was never supposed to happen." With that, her voice completely broke, and the Unicorn began to openly sob. "How could anypony…" No longer able to speak, Twilight covered her face in shame until Spike comforted her.
"Luna seemed so good and nice," Pinky Pie declared without her usual glee or upbeat, high-volume tone. "She seemed so sorry for all the things she did."
"How could she attack her own sister?" Fluttershy begged for an explanation, though she could barely stand the memory. "Especially somepony as good and wonderful as our princess?"
"She can't be gone: She just can't be," Twilight sobbed, shaking her head back and forth. "It can't even be possible."
"It all feels so hopeless," Rarity confessed, sinking down into her seat. "Nothing could have prepared us for this."
"We should've done something," Rainbow Dash angrily declared, tightly crossing her hooves over her chest in disgust.
"Dash…" Applejack firmly but lovingly replied. "There's nothin' we could've done. Ah'm sorry, but you have to admit it: We were helpless back there."
"I'm never helpless!" the sky-blue Pegasus lashed out. Her teeth gritted, Rainbow Dash suddenly caught herself and looked around to see her friends, already upset, looking at her with concern. "…I'm sorry. It's just…"
"You can't beat yourself up, Dashy," Fluttershy declared with a gentle voice. "Night Mare Moon fooled us all." Closing her eyes, Rainbow Dash agreed.
"But you knew all along, didn't you, Twilight?" the hated voice taunted the young Unicorn. "Admit it: You wanted her to die, didn't you?" The voice scoffed, and Twilight could only sob.
"I'd give anything to have her back again," Rarity declared, still able to feel Celestia's warm glow against her skin.
"Everypony," Applejack forced herself to be strong. "It's terrible to say, but we can't think about Celestia now…We have to come up with somethin' to stop Luna. That's what the queen would've wanted."
"Twilight, you always have an idea," Pinky Pie declared, turning to her friend and reaching over to dry her eyes. "What do we do, Boss?"
Unable to face her loved ones, Twilight Sparkle turned her head and stared at the floor in shame. Tightly closing her eyes and letting out a sharp breath, the Unicorn shut out the voices working against her. "Princess Celestia told me to remember the Elements of Harmony," she declared, letting her intellect overcome her fear and pain. With those words, hope seemed to return, and everything grew brighter. "Spike, can you get me the scroll, please?"
"Sure thing," the baby dragon volunteered, giving a quick salute before running to the shelves. Leafing through aged books, Spike finally came across the scroll and lifted it up for Twilight to catch with her magical grasp.
"Thanks, babe," the Unicorn replied, unrolling the paper before the others. "The Elements of Harmony…they said that these would see us through our darkest days."
"What about the nights?" Pinky asked with the curiosity of a child.
"…Those too," Twilight answered, reading over ancient text. Suddenly, she paused, unable to go on.
"What's wrong, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked with concern in her voice.
"…There's nothing here," the young Unicorn sorrowfully declared. "…No spells, incantations, or anything."
"There has to be somethin' on the scroll," Applejack replied, leaning closer and struggling to stay hopeful. "Come on, a diagram or some information: Anything?"
Her eyes flowing over with hot tears, Twilight scanned over ancient symbols and pictures on the scroll, only to drop it from her trembling hooves. "No. No, no!" she cried out, losing all composure and finally breaking down in tears. Suddenly, Twilight felt Fluttershy's warm, gentle hoof settle her own. Looking over, the Unicorn received a calm and understanding smile from the sunny Pegasus. Spike then picked up the scroll and handed it back to his good friend. Growing confused, Twilight looked around at her friends as they came to her aid.
"Nopony can be strong all the tam, Twilight," Applejack lovingly informed her friend.
"But we're here for you 'til the end," Rainbow Dash added with confidence in her voice.
"No matter how bad or scary things get," Pinky Pie continued with a smile.
"We'll give all we have to help one another," Rarity happily gave of herself.
"Even if our hearts break, we'll always keep you safe inside," Fluttershy warmly declared.
"Because you're our friend, Twilight," Spike concluded, strength rising in his voice. "We all came together and stayed that way because of you. You showed us all what friendship really is."
Twilight sat by Spike's side until he fell asleep in his little basket bed. When Applejack locked herself away, Twilight was the one to bring her back, inspiring them both to seek out the others. When Rainbow Dash suffered from nightmares, Twilight stayed with her, always offering to help her. By Twilight's side, Pinky Pie never felt insecure being who she was. Rarity took comfort in Twilight's willingness to defend her and her ideas, even serving as a model from time to time. When Fluttershy cried, Twilight was always there to give reassurance and wipe her tears away. Celestia took such pride and comfort in her greatest student, even in the darkest of nights. Luna hid in the peace of Twilight's dreams, where she would always have a true friend.
Returning from her sorrow, Twilight smiled and began to weep tears of joy. "Thank you," she gasped. "I love you all so much."
"We love you too, Twilight," the others graciously replied as the Unicorn spread out the scroll to reveal an image of six gems.
"Hey…it's all starting to make sense now," Twilight Sparkle joyfully declared. "It's like I was blind before…The six Elements…Applejack, you represent Honesty. Rainbow Dash, you're Loyalty. Pinky Pie, you represent Courage. Rarity, you are Generosity. Fluttershy, you're Kindness…"
"And you're the one that binds them all together, Twilight," Spike declared. "You're Friendship."
"And friendship is magic," the young Unicorn declared, watching all of her friends stand proudly by her side. "And nopony, not even Night Mare Moon, can take that from us."
"Tia!" the young foal that would one day grow up to be the Princess of Night excitedly cried out. "Come find me! Catch me!" The sisters laughed and began the chase through the castle.
"Promise me we'll be friends forever?" Luna asked of her sister as a filly.
Celestia looked lovingly at her little sister and wrapped her wing around her. "I promise, Luna," she declared. "Forever and ever, even after the end of time."
Tightly clenching her eyes shut, Night Mare Moon sobbed quietly, tightly holding an old image of her sister to her chest. Wrapped around Celestia's past reflection in a fetal position, the dark Alicorn felt the memories and pain rush into her frozen heart. Looking in a mirror, watching false flesh fade away from the surface of a young pony partially purple and partially sky-black, Luna could only wonder which one she truly was. Now, all alone, the Princess of Night let go of the old image, and prepared to strike Equestria as its eternal queen. Spreading her massive wings, Moon soared over the tall apartments and skyscrapers of Ponyville, spreading shadows and nightmares upon the land and its residents. However, deep down inside, something troubled the would-be queen, and she soon faded from sight.
Those who had chosen to remain loyal to their dark princess were willingly transformed into Bat-Ponies, whose coats were darker and coarse, ears larger and pointed, eyes glowing with slit-shaped pupils, teeth pointed like fangs, and wings made leather-like in the fashion of vampire bats. The true Bat-Ponies had died off just before the Current Age, but the new legion and their families would carry on their memory and likeness. Each of the winged soldiers was given black-and-silver armor including Centurion helmets, hoof plates, breastplates, and backguards as well as weapons of choice. Under the blacklight of corrupted stars, they flew and patrolled in the name of Night Mare Moon, abducting any and all who dared to venture outside. "Find them!" the dark Alicorn had commanded, her voice filled with rage. "Find all of them! Bring them back to me, especially Twilight Sparkle!"
"That's our plan?" Rainbow Dash asked, getting up from her seat. "We sneak up Night Mare Moon and hope we can use the Elements of Harmony to beat her?"
"We don' even know where she is," Applejack exclaimed, starting to have her doubts.
"Yes, we do," Twilight declared with confidence. "I mean, it's a shot in the dark…but I have an idea."
"I love Twilight's ideas!" Pinky Pie cried out, leaping onto the floor and supporting her head with her hooves like a child ready for Story-Time. Fluttershy, however, went to the window and peeked out from under a curtain.
"When Princess Luna called us to that palace, she showed me something," the purple Unicorn explained. "It was something special to her. I mean, the real her. It wasn't at the castle in Canterlot…and it's probably the one place Princess Celestia wouldn't touch over the years."
"Oh my," Fluttershy suddenly declared, drawing all attention to her. "There's something terrible going on outside…and I think it's coming here." One by one, the Mane 6 and Spike looked out the window to see a small army of Bat-Ponies approaching Twilight's home. "I've never seen Bat-Ponies before. They look mean."
"Luna's sending goons after us now?" Rainbow Dash snapped. "I thought she'd at least have the stones to do it herself."
"There's no time to debate it, everypony," Rarity nervously declared. "We had best slip out at once."
"Follow me," Twilight called out, leafing through several books and opening them up on the floor.
"Twilight, we can't have our book club right now!" Pinky cried out. "There's…crazy stuff going on everywhere!"
"These aren't that kind of books," the Unicorn declared, clapping her hooves together. Suddenly, the words of the ancient text left their pages and formed a portal in the air. "There's a way out of here that nopony knows about. Let's go!" Grabbing the scroll depicting the Elements of Harmony, Spike and the ponies leaped through the portal just before it vanished, along with the books. Only moments later, Moon's sentries tore down the door, weapons in-hoof, and scanning for those their princess sent them after. Finding nothing and nopony, the Bat-Ponies began a vain search through Twilight's home.
