Sunset Shimmer was in the Canterlot Castle's library reading a book. She was trying to learn a new spell, but she couldn't concentrate as her mind kept drifting back to what Princess Celestia had told her before.
A few hours ago...
Princess Celestia told her student, "Sunset, you have to make some friends. There are more things to life than books, you know."
And Sunset replied, "But Princess, I think friends are a waste of time. Why should I waste time making friends when I could learn so much? All friends do is distract you from your work."
Celestia said, "You'll learn in time why friends are important, Sunset. Could you at least try to make one friend?"
"But princess, that would make less time for me to read some books."
"Try for me?", Celestia asked.
"Fine.", said Sunset. "I'll try to make just one friend for your sake."
Back in the present...
Sunset couldn't stop thinking about that. Celestia's words echoed in her head.
Sunset was getting a headache from that. So, she decided to make one friend so that her headache would go. She put her book back on its shelf and then exited the library.
Sunset then left the castle to make a friend. She had no idea how to do that. There were so many ponies around, which one should she make friends with?
'How do you make friends anyways?', thought Sunset. 'Do you have to hit them with a book, and then apologize saying that it was an accident, and ask them to be your friend? Or do you-'
She was so busy thinking, that she bumped into somepony and fell. "Ouch!", said Sunset.
The stallion she had bumped into helped her get back on her hooves and then he said, "Sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going. Are you hurt badly?"
Sunset looked at the stallion. He had light grey fur, a black mane, and green eyes. He was also a unicorn. His cutie mark was three black crystals. After seeing that, Sunset replied, "Your apology is accepted, and no I'm not hurt badly. All I got is a sore behind."
The stallion said, "I'm Sombra."
"I'm Sunset Shimmer. It was nice to bump into you, Sombra.", said Sunset.
Sombra laughed, "It was nice to bump into you too."
Sunset said, "Well, I've got to go now. Bye."
Saying that, Sunset ran back to the Everfree castle's library.
Sombra waved, "Bye. I hope to bump into you again."
Once in the library, Sunset opened the book that she had been reading before. It was titled, 'The Spell Of Invisibility'. Sunset thought it would be fun to use. For example, if she wanted to scare somepony, all she had to do was put the invisibility spell on herself, and once close enough, she would stop the spell, and scare the pony.
And, it would be very useful. Other ponies weren't allowed to learn spells such as the ones of invisibility, fire, ice, mind reading, and a few others.
The reason why Sunset could learn them was because she was Princess Celestia's best and most trusted student. Ever since Sunset's admission test for Princess Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns, Celestia had decided that Sunset was much more powerful than most unicorns, and had made Sunset her student.
On her test, Sunset had managed to destroy half the castle and fix it. And she had also made a plant grow into a tree. Celestia wanted to teach Sunset how to control her magic, and that was another reason why the mare was Celestia's student.
Sunset had always been interested in books ever since she was a foal. She loved books and spent most of her time reading them. If she could, then she would've lived in a library, just so that she could wake up and see thousands of books waiting to be read.
An hour passed and Sunset had finally learnt the spell of invisibility. She cast it on herself and then walked out of the library. The guards who were guarding it, jumped in surprise seeing the doors open and nopony come out.
Sunset decided to look for Celestia to show her what she had learnt. She found the Princess Of The Sun in her throne room. Sunset entered the room and then ended her spell.
She bowed and said, "Princess, I've learnt the invisibility spell."
"Have you?", asked Celestia.
"Yes.", replied Sunset.
Sunset then cast the invisibility spell and walked just in front of the princesses throne. Then she removed it and Princess Celestia said, "I am happy to know that you have learnt the invisibility spell. Now tell me, have you made any friends?"
Sunset replied, "I tried to make one friend, but I didn't know how to make one."
"Sometimes bumping into somepony by accident can start a friendship.", said Celestia.
Sunset told her, "I did bump into somepony."
"And what happened?", asked the Princess Of The Sun.
"I fell, and then the pony apologized. Then, he introduced himself."
"What was his name?", asked Celestia.
"Sombra.", replied Sunset.
"So did you become friends with him?", asked the Princess.
"No.", said Sunset. "I said it was nice to bump into him and that I had to go. He said that he hoped to bump into me again."
"Why didn't you ask him to be friends?"
"The thought didn't cross my mind, because I was busy thinking about learning the invisibility spell, but next time I bump into him, I'll ask to be friends.", was Sunset's reply.
Sunset had gone to her room long ago with a pile of books to read. She lived in the Canterlot castle.
While reading her book, Sunset couldn't help but think about the stallion she had bumped into before, Sombra. He looked familiar for some reason, but Sunset couldn't remember why.
Had she met him before somewhere? She'd add that to her list of questions to ask him next time.
Morning...
As soon as Sunset woke up, the first thing she did was go to the library. Without having any breakfast. She had a pile of books with her to put back in the library because she had finished reading them.
There was a book that had caught her attention yesterday, but she couldn't take it, because of the heavy pile of books she had taken.
She took it off the shelf and read the title. She read, "The legend of the mare of the moon, Nightmare Moon. Hmm, sounds interesting."
Sunset opened the book and started reading, 'Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night.
Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night.
One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon.
She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister and banished her to the moon for a thousand years.
The elder sister took on responsibility for both the sun and moon. And harmony had been maintained in Equestria for generations since.
Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will make the night last forever.'
Sunset said to herself, "Does Princess Celestia know about this?" After thinking, she said, "Of course she does. After all, she is Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria. But, if she does know, then why hasn't she done anything about it, like making precautions? I know! I'll ask her!"
So, Sunset took the book with her and went to Princess Celestia who was in her throne room. After Sunset bowed, the Princess asked her, "Sunset? Do you need help with something?"
Sunset replied, "Yes Princess, I do. In this book, it says that on the longest day of the thousandth year the stars will aid in Nightmare Moon's escape and she will bring eternal night."
"And your question is?", asked Celestia.
Sunset asked, "And tomorrow will be the longest day of the thousandth year. My question is princess, have you made any precautions for Nightmare Moon's return?"
Celestia replied, "That's just an old pony's tale, Sunset Shimmer. Unless you have any other questions, you can go back to reading books."
"Um, ok."
Sunset went back to the library, but she didn't believe that the legend of Nightmare Moon was just an old pony's tale.
What if it was real? Then what would Celestia do?
Sunset thought, 'I must find these Elements Of Harmony. Even if the princess says that the legend I read is just an old pony's tale, I still think that it's not. According to the book, the last known location of the Elements Of Harmony was in the castle of the two sisters, which is in the Everfree forest. All I have to do is go there, get the Elements, and come back. That shouldn't be too hard.'
The following morning Sunset Shimmer got ready to start Operation Get The Elements Of Harmony, or in short form, OGTEOH.
She packed a few books in her saddlebag and left the castle.
Sunset hesitated before entering the forest, but she knew that the Elements were the only thing that could defeat Nightmare Moon, if the legend wasn't just an old pony's tale, and the mare of the moon returned.
Taking a deep breath, Sunset entered the Everfree Forest. Ponies avoided this part of Equestria because it was said that the forest had a mind of its own.
Fortunately, nothing happened to Sunset and by the time she reached the castle of the two sisters, the sun had already set.
Sunset used a spell to make the tip of her horn glow, and using the light, she entered the castle.
Once in, Sunset looked around for the Elements Of Harmony. She saw something in the corner of the room and ran to it.
There were five gems there, that looked exactly like the ones shown in her book.
Except that one was missing. 'There's supposed to be six elements, right?', thought Sunset.
She got her book out of her saddlebag and opened it. She read, 'There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is said to be revealed when the other five elements are connected by a spark.'
Sunset put the book back in her bag and said to herself, "I guess that's why only five are here."
Sunset then put the five gems into her saddlebag and teleported to the town hall, just in time for the start of the Summer Sun Celebration, which was being held in Ponyville.
The spotlight shone on the mayor mare as she said, " Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!"
Ponies cheered happily, and the mayor continued, "In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honour to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria...Princess Celestia!"
The curtains opened and birds sang, but the Princess wasn't there.
Sunset thought, "This can't be good."
Ponies around started whispering things that might've happened to the princess. Mayor mare said, "Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!"
A pink mare said, "Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games! Is she hiding?"
The white unicorn who had opened the curtains searched and said, "She's gone!"
Ponies gasped as a blue mist came on the stage and took the form of an alicorn who was tall as Celestia, had black fur, and had battle armour on. She was Nightmare Moon!
Nightmare Moon said, "Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces."
A blue pegasus flew forward and demanded, "What did you do with our princess?"
Nightmare Moon chuckled, "Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?"
The same pink mare from before guessed, "Ooh, ooh, more guessing games! Um, Hokey Smokes! How about... Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty—"
The evil alicorn asked, "Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?"
Sunset stepped forward and said, " I did. And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!"
The ponies who were present gasped in horror. Nightmare said, "Well well well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here."
Sunset replied, "You're here to bring eternal night!"
Nightmare Moon chuckled, "Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!"
Thunder decorated the sky as Nightmare Moon laughed evilly. Mayor mare ordered the guards, "Seize her! Only she knows where the Princess is!"
The royal guards flew forward, but the dark alicorn struck them saying, "Stand back you foals! Nopony and nothing can defeat me!"
Sunset defiantly said, "And that's where you're wrong, Nightmare Moon! The Elements Of Harmony can defeat you!"
Nightmare Moon said, "Oh really? But nopony is brave enough to enter the Everfree Forest."
Sunset said, "That won't be needed. I have the Elements right here."
"You're kidding. You're kidding, right?", asked the mare of the moon.
"And why would I?", asked Sunset. She took the five elements out of her bag and said, "I never kid."
"But you don't have the sixth element.", said Nightmare Moon. "You can't defeat me with only five. You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me? Now you will never see your princess, or your sun! The night will last forever!"
Nightmare laughed evilly, but Sunset said, "All I need is one spark."
Sunset concentrated on the Elements with her magic, making a spark. Sunset concentrated hard, and her efforts were rewarded with the sixth Element Of Harmony, the Element Of Magic.
Sunset smiled, "It seems that I do have the sixth Element, Nightmare. Consider yourself defeated!"
Sunset's eyes glowed white as the Elements showed their power. Nightmare Moon screamed, "Noooooooo!"
The ponies gathered, who had been quiet the entire time that Sunset and Nightmare Moon had talked, now cheered as the sun rose, and their beloved Princess appeared.
Everypony bowed, and Sunset ran to her teacher. She said, "Princess Celestia! You're back!"
Celestia replied, "Sunset Shimmer, my faithful student. I knew you could do it."
Sunset said, "But you told me that it was just an old pony's tale."
"I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return, and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her. I wanted you to believe in what you thought. And it is only because you believed in yourself, that you defeated Nightmare Moon, and brought back my sister, Luna.", said Celestia.
"Your sister?", asked Sunset.
Celestia walked towards her sister and said, "Princess Luna."
The Princess Of The Moon jumped up, after hearing her name. Celestia continued, "It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister."
The princess couldn't hold back her tears as she hugged Celestia and said, "I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, Celestia!"
The Princess Of The Sun replied, " I've missed you too, Luna."
The moon princess asked, "What happened? How did I get turned back into my true self?"
Celestia replied, "It is because of my student, Sunset Shimmer. Even after I told her that the legend was an old pony's tale, she still believed that it was true, and got the Elements Of Harmony from our old castle."
"Old castle?", asked Luna. "Does that mean we have a new castle?"
Celestia answered, "After I was forced to banish you to the moon, I changed the capital of Equestria to Canterlot and made the castle there."
"Oh. I see.", said Luna.
Sunset decided to ask, "Um, Princess Celestia? May I have permission to go back to the library now? There are so many books waiting to be read."
Celestia laughed and said, "You'll never stop loving books, will you? You may go to the library."
"Thanks, Princess.", said Sunset. After saying that, Sunset ran at full speed to the Canterlot Castle's library to read more books!
Author's note: In this story, Sunset Shimmer replaces Twilight and the rest of the mane six. Sunset would defeat Nightmare Moon using the Elements Of Harmony which she powered by herself. I thought, what if Sunset Shimmer met King Sombra before he took over the Crystal Empire, and became friends with him? Don't forget to...like...comment...share...vote!