Luna Eclipsed
Night's POV
It was the Nightmare Night Festival today, which seemed to be the Equestrian equivalent of Halloween, and Night was getting the finishing touches on his costume. He was dressing up as one of his favorite heroes, Benjamin Sisko from Star Trek: Deep Space 9, and was able to magic up a pretty good replica of the uniform and a goatee. He was still debating on whether or not to use his magic to make himself bald for the night though. He decided against it and headed down to where Spike was waiting in his dragon costume, which looked an awful lot like Spike himself. "Why are you in a dragon costume?" Night asked.
"I like being a dragon," Spike responded.
"But you are a dragon," Night told him. Spike merely shrugged.
After some waiting Spike was clearly getting impatient. "Come on, Twilight. We're gonna be late for the Nightmare Night festival," he called out. Twilight then walked out looking a bit like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, but was more of a blue color and had stars on it. "Are you that one kooky grandpa from Ponyville Retirement Village?" Spike asked. Twilight looked annoyed.
"I'm Star Swirl the Bearded!" Twilight answered. Spike just looked at her confused. "Father of the amniomorphic spell?" Twilight continued. Spike still looked confused. "Did you even read that book I gave you about obscure unicorn history?" Twilight asked.
"Um…" Spike started, looking nervous. A knock on the door then got their attention. "That sounds important," Spike said and he sprinted to the door.
"Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!" the foals called out when the door opened. Spike went to grab the bowl of candy as Twilight and Night walked up to the door.
"Hi, everypony. Great costumes," Twilight commented. She then turned to the pony supervising them. "Happy Nightmare Night, Granny Smith," Twilight greeted.
"I should have been asleep five hours ago," Granny Smith complained. Twilight then passed out the candy and a small foal pushed his way forward. If Night remembered right, that was Pipsqueak.
"Pipsqueak the pirate, at your service. It's my very first Nightmare Night," he said proudly.
"Since you moved here from Trottingham?" Twilight asked.
"No, my very first Nightmare Night ever!" Pipsqueak stated. Suddenly a flash of feathers appeared. Night recognized Pinkie as she squawked like the chicken she was dressing up as.
"Enough chit chat! Time is candy!" Pinkie stated.
"Pinkie Pie, aren't you a little old for this?" Twilight asked.
"Too old for free candy?" Pinkie asked shocked. She let out a quick squawk before continuing. "Never." Twilight rolled her eyes and put a piece of candy in Pinkie's bag, while Night just sighed with amusement. The bells on Twilight's costume started jiggling as Twilight moved her hat around.
"Do you like it?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah! Great costume, Twilight! You make a fantastic weirdo clown!" Pinkie said. Before Twilight could respond Pinkie started to eat the candy still in the bowl then sprinted off.
"A clown?" Twilight asked shocked. The three then started to head off to the festival as Twilight continued to complain. "Look at the borders on these robes. These are hoof-stitched!" Twilight stated.
"It's a great costume! Huh! Grandpa!" Spike mocked. Twilight looked like she wanted to hurt him but Night put a hoof on her shoulder.
"Ignore them. I think it's great," Night told her.
"You're just saying that, are you?" Twilight asked.
"I'm not going to answer that because that's a trap question," Night told her.
"Well, looks like somepony can learn," Twilight teased. Night smiled at her and the three headed to the town square. Twilight still seemed upset, however.
"Something on your mind Twilight?" Night asked.
"I just don't get why ponies aren't interested in their history. Star Swirl the Bearded is only the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era. He created more than two hundred spells! He even has a shelf in the Canterlot library of magic named after him," Twilight started then her face shifted to show that she had an idea. Maybe I should start up a pony group to teach ponies about history. I bet everypony would love it! What do you think, Spike?" Twilight asked. Night turned and saw that Spike was carrying a massive amount of candy in his claws.
"I love it!" Spike said like he wasn't listening as he ran into Twilight when she stopped.
"Hey look, we're here already! Should we get something to eat?" Twilight asked then noticed all the candy as Spike burped.
"Twilight, Night! Look at our haul!" Pinkie shouted as she and the group of foals she was with came up and showed the two all the candy they had. "Ah! Can you believe it?" Pinkie asked as she dove in and pecked the candy. "And then, we went to Cheerilee's house, and got a bunch more goodies. Didn't we, Pip?" Pinkie asked him as a black cloud started to roll in.
"Sure did!" Pip answered.
"And then, we had to stop and wait for Granny Smith, and-" Pinkie started when lightning cracked overhead. Pinkie jumped up and sprinted away screaming with the foals right behind her screaming as well. As they ran, Night heard a familiar laughter over the screams.
"Rainbow Dash, that wasn't very nice," Twilight told her as Rainbow laughed on her cloud wearing a Shadow Bolt costume.
"Lighten up, old-timer. This is the best night of the year for pranks!" Rainbow told her.
"But look at what you did to Spike," Twilight countered while pointing at the dragon, who was chocking on a piece of candy. Night walked over and slammed a hoof into Spike's stomach and he coughed it back up.
"It's all in good fun. Oh! Oh! There's another group over there!" Rainbow said excitedly as she took her cloud over there. The three decided to continue as Rainbow did her prank again and Spike was put on Twilight's back.
As they made their way over to the apple bobbing station, they noticed Applejack near it. "Happy Nightmare Night, Applejack!" Twilight told her.
"Howdy, Spike! Hey, Twilight and Night! Nice costumes," Applejack told them.
"Thanks! I'm a dragon," Spike told her.
"She means me, Spike," Twilight countered.
"With that beard, I reckon you're some sorta country music singer," Applejack told her as Twilight groaned annoyedly. "And I'm guessing Night's one of those characters from that space explorers show back in Canterlot," Applejack said.
"You got that right," Night told her. "It's pretty similar to a show on Earth so I figured I could get away with dressing up as an Earth character."
"While y'all are here, ya' feel like bobbin' for an apple?" Applejack asked. Just as she said that, Derpy came out from the bottom of the bucket with the drain stopper and the water rushed free.
A series of cheers was then heard behind them and Night turned to see Mayor Mare dressed up as a clown with a crowd in front of her. "Thank you, everypony, and welcome to the Nightmare Night festival! Now, all the little ponies who have been out collecting sweets should follow our friend Zecora to hear the legend of... Nightmare Moon!" she said, laughing maniacally.
"Spooky voice might work better if she wasn't dressed like that," Spike commented and Twilight giggled. Night, however, felt a bit betrayed.
"Luna has been back for more than a year and ponies are still talking about her like she could snap at any second," Night said. Twilight put a supportive hoof on his shoulder and the three started to follow the foals into the Everfree forest where Zecora was standing in front of a statue of Nightmare Moon.
"Listen close, my little dears, I'll tell you where you got your fears of Nightmare Night, so dark and scary," Zecora started. She then pulled out some green magic dust and blew on it. "Of Nightmare Moon, who makes you wary." The mist then turned to look like Nightmare Moon and flew right at the ponies forcing the dust around them. "Every year, we put on a disguise, to save ourselves from her searching eyes." Two foals were then startled by a pair of eyes and mouth with pointed teeth behind them but it turned out to be Zecora. "But Nightmare Moon wants just one thing: to gobble up ponies in one quick swing! Hungrily, she soars the sky. If she sees nopony, she passes by. So if she comes and all is clear, Equestria is safe another year!" Zecora finished and Pip tugged on her robe.
"Uh, Miss Zecora, if we wear costumes to hide from Nightmare Moon, so she won't gobble us up, how come we still need to give her some of our candy?" he asked.
"A perfect question, my little friend. For Nightmare Moon you must not offend. Fill up her belly with a treat or two, so she won't return to come eat you!" Zecora explained. Pinkie and the foals screamed in panic.
"Everypony! Just dump some candy and get out of here!" Pinkie said as they did so.
Suddenly a crash of thunder was heard and the clouds swirled as a flash of magic was seen and a chariot pulled by two ponies with bat wings and wearing royal armor came down from the sky. "Is this part of the act?" Night asked Zecora who shook her head.
"It's Nightmare Moon! Run!" Pinkie screamed as everypony but Night and Twilight ran toward Ponyville. The chariot started to head in that direction when the two started to follow it.
The two arrived in town as the chariot came to a halt and the pony on it jumped down and the ponies bowed fearfully. The pony from the chariot then pulled down her hood and Night recognized Luna. "Luna!" Night said excitedly. As he started to move toward her Spike grabbed him and pulled him into a bowing position and quietly shushed him. Luna walked up to one of the ponies on the ground and smiled, but this seemed to scare her more.
"Citizens of Ponyville! We have graced your tiny village with our presence, so that you might behold the real Princess of the Night! A creature of nightmares no longer, but instead a pony who desires your love and admiration! Together we shall change this dreadful celebration into a bright and glorious feast!" Luna said in a booming voice. Thunder and lightning then went off at the wrong moment.
"Did you hear that, everypony? Nightmare Moon says she's gonna feast on us all!" Pinkie shouted. Her and the foals then ran away screaming.
"What? No, children, no! You no longer have reason to fear us! Screams of delight is what your princess desires, not screams of terror!" Luna said normally as she stomped her hoof. Luna then turned to Mare. "Madame Mayor, thy Princess of the Night hath arrived," Luna said, pointing her hoof toward her and Mare ducked in fear. Luna look surprised at the response and pointed her hoof at a few other ponies who all had the same reaction. "What is the matter with you? Very well, then. Be that way. We won't even bother with the traditional royal farewell," Luna said angrily as she left on hoof.
"I'd better talk to her," Night said to Twilight.
"Mind if I come?" Twilight asked.
"Let me talk to her first. She's pretty upset by the looks of it," Night told her. Night was about to leave when Spike grabbed him.
"You can't talk to her! She's Nightmare Moon!" Spike protested. This really angered Night.
"She's not Nightmare Moon! And even if she was, she's still my sister!" Night shouted. He then got rid of his costume, he wasn't going to celebrate something that still thought of Luna as Nightmare Moon.
Night found Luna at the Nightmare Moon statue and landed behind her. "You alright Luna?" Night asked her. Luna turned around and saw him.
"Night! It's so good to see a friendly face, little brother!" Luna said. The two hugged each other with their wings.
"Pretty cool entrance, by the way, that was amazing," Night complimented.
"The thunder and lightning was probably a bad idea though," Luna stated. "That's more like your entrance."
"Maybe on a bad guy, but not for everyday life," Night pointed out. The two laughed for a bit before Night turned serious. "Still, are you okay?" Night asked.
"I don't really know. I don't get why everypony seems to fear me," Luna said.
"Well using the royal voice probably didn't help," Night pointed out.
"This is how all we royals address our subjects," Luna said in the voice.
"Well, it sounds like you are screaming at everypony," Night told her. "Maybe just try talking like how we are now," Night suggested.
"I don't see how that could-" Luna started.
"And don't speak like Shakespeare. It makes you sound older than you look," Night said.
"Don't tell a mare that she's old," Luna said scornfully but with enough humor that Night could tell she was joking.
"I mean we are over a thousand years old," Night pointed out. The two shared a laugh before Luna sighed.
"It's been so hard in Canterlot to adjust to everything. I thought that if I went here, things could be a bit easier," Luna explained.
"What made you think that?" Night asked.
"Well, you adjusted here so I thought-" Luna started.
"Okay, we both had different scenario's on that. Sure, we returned at about the same time, but I was a long lost prince and you were… Well…" Night started but didn't know how to say what he wanted to nicely.
"An evil nightmare who wanted to blanket Equestria in eternal darkness," Luna finished grimly.
"That's one way to say it," Night told her.
"It's the only way to say it," Luna countered.
"Well, let's head back to Ponyville and see if we can-" Night started when Pinkie appeared.
"Night! You've got to protect us! Nightmare Moon is-" Pinkie started but stopped when she saw Luna. "Oh no! Nightmare Moon has forced Night to her side! Everypony run!" Pinkie screamed and the foals ran as well.
"Nay children, wait!" Luna started with her royal voice before she corrected herself. "I mean... nay, children, no, wait."
"Ignore them, Luna. Let's head back to Ponyville," Night said.
When the two arrived the ponies started to bow in fear again. "It's no use little brother. They have never like us, I mean, me, and they never will," Luna told him.
"Princess Luna, Night!" Twilight said as she ran up.
"Starswirl the Bearded. Commendable costume! You even got the bells right," Luna complimented her.
"Thank you! Finally! Somepony who gets my costume!" Twilight said before turning to Night. "So, things turn out okay?" she asked him.
"Well, as okay as it can with Pinkie adding rumors. Luna just wants to fit in," Night told her.
"Well, I'm sure Applejack will have a few ideas," Twilight told them and the three headed over to her.
When they arrived, Applejack had just helped Pipsqueak from falling into the bobbing apple tub. She turned around to see Luna and jumped into a fearful bow. "Uh... Applejack, the princess is looking for a little advice on how to fit in around here," Twilight told her.
"'Fit in'? Really?" Applejack asked. Night gave her an annoyed glare and she got the message. "I mean... that's easy! All you gotta do is have the right attitude. Loosen up a bit, be positive, play a few games, have some fun," Applejack told Luna.
"Fun? What is this 'fun' thou, you speak of?" Luna asked. The three other ponies pointed to a table where there were a bunch of fake spiders in a bowl. Luna walked up to them and inspected one of them. "What do I do with these?" Luna wondered.
"Try to land the sp-sp-spiders on the web," a pony in a bee costume answered fearfully. Luna threw the spider but it fell short of the web.
"You can do it, princess!" Applejack reassured her. Luna looked determined and threw another spider and it landed right in the middle of the net.
"Nice one Luna!" Night complemented.
"I actually enjoyed that! What else do you have?" Luna asked.
They showed Luna a pumpkin shooting station and Luna got set up. "Fire away, princess!" Twilight cheered. Luna fired the pumpkin and it landed right on target.
"I did it!" Luna shouted excitedly.
"Why don't you try bobbin' for apples? We got the best apples in Equestria here, princess," Applejack suggested.
"Actually, why don't you call us… me… Luna," Luna told her then turned to everypony. "Call me Luna everypony!" she shouted. Everypony accepted that and Night felt proud. "So, about this 'bobbing for apples'?" Luna asked Applejack. The four then saw Pipsqueak fall into the bobbing tub and Luna ran over to pull him out. That's when trouble showed up.
"Hey, guys. Anypony seen Pip? We lost him the last time we had to run–" Pinkie asked squawked when she saw Luna pulling Pip out. "Aaah! Nightmare Moon is gobbling Pipsqueak! Everypony run!" Pinkie shouted. The foals followed along and Pip broke free of Luna's mouth.
"Help! My backside has been gobbled!" Pipsqueak screamed. Luna looked horrified at this.
"'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!" Luna said as she stomped her foot on the ground and lightning and thunder went off. Everypony but Night and Twilight started to back up in fear. Luna seemed to notice. "Fair villagers, please do not back away. Let us join together in… fun!" she said and threw a toy spider at them but they still backed away. "Not enough fun for you? What say you to this?!" Luna then used her magic to bring the spider to life. She then brought the others to life.
Night reacted quickly and got the swarm off of another pony and brought all the spiders together. He brought lightning to his horn and fired a Lightning Beam and disintegrated them. "Luna, that's enough!" Night shouted. Luna looked at Night horrified and Night realized what was so close to doing. He was about to fight his sister, and she wasn't Nightmare Moon this time. "Luna… I…" Night started.
"Save it. I see how it is," Luna said mournfully.
"Luna…" Night tired to say but his words failed him.
"Since you choose to fear your princess rather than love her, and dishonor her with this insulting celebration, we decree that Nightmare Night shall be canceled! Forever!" Luna told everypony in the royal voice. She then flew away and Night fell to the ground defeated. Looking toward the ground.
"Shoot. We had everything goin' our way. Luna was happy, everypony in town was happy, now look at 'em," Applejack said, but Night didn't look up.
"Why… Why was I such a fucking IDIOT?!" Night shouted to himself, lightning crackling in the distance. He then felt a hoof on his shoulder and he saw Twilight.
"Don't worry Night. It's not over yet," she told him.
"What are you going to do?" Night asked.
"I'm going to do what I do best. Lecture her!" Twilight answered.
"I can't believe I'm saying this to you, but that's a terrible plan," Night responded.
"That's why it'll work. It's what you do," Twilight countered. Night opened his mouth to say something but couldn't find anything. "Now come on," Twilight said and the two started searching for Luna. They found her crossing the bridge to the Everfree Forest with her head held low. "Princess?"
"Leave me be, both of you," Luna said.
"Look, Luna… I'm sorry. I messed up. I shouldn't have reacted to you like that," Night apologized.
"But you did. And I don't blame you for it. It seems I'm destined to be alone," Luna said.
"Princess, I'm sorry it hasn't worked out how we wanted. But you have to believe me when I tell you that Nightmare Night is one of the most popular celebrations we have," Twilight explained.
"Yes. I can tell. By all the adoring shrieks of the children as they run away," Luna pointed out.
"Princess…" Twilight started. Night then notice Twilight's face light up with an idea.
A few moments later, everything was set up. "You sure this will work?" Night asked Twilight. His question was answered as Pinkie started to head down the alley eating the candy trail they had laid out.
Twilight then jumped out and tackled Pinkie into the wall and put her hoof in her mouth. "No! No shrieking. No screaming or squealing either. Okay?" Twilight told her.
"Okay," Pinkie answered, her voice muffled from the hoof in her mouth.
"There's something I want you to see. And I promise that it's safe, but you really, really, really can't shriek. Do you promise not to shriek?" Twilight asked her. Pinkie nodded and Twilight removed her hoof. Luna then stepped into the open with Night beside her. Pinkie started to squawk but she stopped herself.
"Pinkie, you remember my sister Luna, right?" Night asked her.
"Ah. The ringleader of the frightened children. Hast thou… I mean, Have you come to make peace?" Luna asked her, extending her hoof to shake. Pinkie started to hold out her own hoof when Rainbow came up with her cloud and caused lightning and thunder.
"Nightmare Moon!" Pinkie squawked and left behind a fake egg. Night jumped onto Rainbow and pinned her to the ground.
"I am getting real sick and tired of you pulling that damn prank at the worst of times Rainbow!" Night shouted. Rainbow, looking scared, flew away as fast as she could before Night could do anything else. Twilight then ran up after a conversation with Pinkie.
"Princess Luna! I've finally figured out why you're having so much trouble being liked!" Twilight told her.
"Forgive me if I withhold my enthusiasm," Luna said deadpanned.
"Come with me. I'll explain everything on the way," Twilight told her. The three then headed for the Nightmare Moon statue as Twilight finished explaining her plan.
"You sure this will work?" Night whispered to Twilight.
"Trust me on this," Twilight answered.
"I do, but that doesn't mean I'll stop worrying," Night told her. The two then hide as the foals came up right on schedule for the annual candy offering.
"Goodbye, Nightmare Night. Forever," Pipsqueak said. The second he finished say that the wind started whistling and Nightmare Moon's speaking in the royal voice was heard.
"Citizens of Ponyville! You were wise to bring this candy to me. I am pleased with your offering. So pleased that I may just eat it... instead of eating you!" she said, taking the place of the statue.
The ponies screamed in fear and sprinted away. Once they were, Luna reverted back to herself and spat out the fake fangs. "That was awesome!" Night said excitedly.
"Really? I'm not sure that did what you wanted it to do Twilight Sparkle," Luna told her.
"Just wait," Twilight told her.
"For what? For… for them to scream some more?" Luna asked. Pipsqueak then came up and tugged on Luna's mane.
"Um... Princess Luna. I know there's not gonna be any more Nightmare Night, but do you suppose maybe you could come back next year and scare us again anyway?" he asked.
"Are you saying that you all like me scaring you?" Luna asked confused.
"It's really fun! Scary, but fun!" Pipsqueak answered.
"It… is?" Luna asked even more confused.
"Yeah! Nightmare Night is my favorite night of the year," Pipsqueak told her.
"Well then. We shall have to bring," Luna started then said in the royal voice, "Nightmare Night back!" sending Pipsqueak back a bit.
"Whoa! You're my favorite princess ever!" Pipsqueak told her. He then ran to where the rest of the foals were. "She said yes guys!" he told them and they cheered.
"See? They really do like you, princess," Twilight told her.
"Can it really be true?" Luna asked herself. "Oh, most wonderful of-" she started to say in royal voice but caught herself. "I mean… This is a great night."
"Also, when you do come back, good luck scaring me. I'm pretty tough," Night told Luna.
"Maybe I should give Luna the secret to how I scare you," Twilight said to herself out loud.
"Ooo, I'd like to know that," Luna told Twilight.
"Don't you dare," Night said, a little worried. The two mares then started laughing at this and Night rolled his eyes in amusement. Luna then headed back to Ponyville while Twilight summoned Spike to write a letter.
Dear Princess Celestia, When you first sent me to Ponyville, I didn't know anything about friendship. I met somepony tonight who was having the same problem: your sister, Princess Luna! She taught me that one of the best things you can do with friendship, is to give it to others, and help them find it themselves! And I'm happy to report that all of Ponyville has learned that even if somepony seems a little intimidating, even scary, when you offer them your friendship, you'll discover a whole new pony underneath. And even if my Star Swirl the Bearded costume didn't go over, this still turned out to be the best Nightmare Night ever!
Once Twilight heard a crash of thunder and Rainbow flying away in panic. Turning around, the two saw Luna fly down on the cloud Rainbow had been using to scare ponies with and winked. The four started laughing and Night was happy Luna had found herself here.