The Night Will Last Forever

"The stars!" Luna shouted. It suddenly became obvious: The stars were created with her own magic, therefore, she could use the magic from the stars to teleport off the moon. Best of all, the magic in the stars wasn't occluded by the imprisonment spell—unlike the magic from her horn. The magic in the stars weren't stronger than the Elements Of Harmony, but their magic could be just enough for her to leave the moon, and evade the effects of the imprisonment spell.

Luna fired a bolt of magic from her horn, this time targeting the stars. Initially, nothing remarkable took place. She maintained a stream of magic flowing at the stars, but the magic stream never passed the imprisonment spell. Luna closed her eyes and concentrated on using all her magic desperately hoping to reach the stars. She took deep, full breaths to channel all her energy. After a minute of total concentration, Luna felt an aching sensation form in her head. She peaked one eye open to see if she had any luck reaching the stars. Nothing remarkable yet. Her frustrations caused her to strain herself. She dug her hooves into the moon's surface, and clenched every muscle in her body for a final effort. Alas, even after centuries of practice she was still too weak.

She collapsed onto her back from the exhaustion. She was panting heavily, and was light-headed. All she could do was ask herself why she was still not strong enough. The Elements Of Harmony are just too powerful. Maybe if the stars were just a little closer... No matter what I do, I can't get passed the imprisonment spell.

Luna discovered what went wrong. Her magic was negated from going beyond the moon, and she was magically bound to the confinements of the moon, but that only applied for her—not her Shadowbolts. The Shadowbolts were conjured out of the shadows, and could therefore freely roam through any shadow, even the shadows on the stars. She could conjure her Shadowbolts, and have them use the magic on the stars to bring them back to her. But there was one problem—not enough shadows on the stars. They were too bright for there to be shadows.

Luna lost track of how long its been since she was in Equestria, but however long it was, it was probably best that she didn't know. She was so close to making it back to Equestria, yet in reality, she was just as close as she was from the beginning. Then, something caught Luna's eye. The stars were becoming dim.

Luna was curious as to what was happening. The stars usually only did that during the summer solstice celebration. They darkened along with any other light source on the summer solstice so that Celestia's sun wouldn't be masked by any other light; to put emphasis on the sun's natural, radiant beauty. Luna smiled. This must be it: the summer solstice. This is my chance to make the longest day into the longest night.

Luna conjured her Shadowbolts, a horde of illusionary warriors. Luna ordered her warriors, "Go to the stars! Bring them back here!" The Shadowbolts each gave an obedient head nod, before they vanished into a cloud of blue magical essence. For the first time for 1,000 years she was waiting in anticipation. Sure enough, Luna could see a cluster of stars coming toward her. Luna smiled. Within moments, Celestia will regret everything she done to me. She will regret trapping me here, and stealing my moon, and using the Elements Of Harmony without my permission.

The stars were brought to Luna. With the magic from the stars, she was able to use their magic to move the way her Shadowbolts moved—through the shadows. Luna tried one more time, to return to Equestria, this time with more hope than ever. She closed her eyes to focus her magic. Her horn glowed and her magic synced into the magic from the stars. A tingling sensation formed in her hooves, and traveled all the way up her spine.

Her body transformed into a smoky cloud of magic essence. Immediately after, she reappeared feeling a non-customary surface under her hooves—grass. Could it have... Did it work? Luna curiously opened her eyes.

Luna was looking at things that she haven't seen in a long time: grass, water, animals, houses. She was back in Equestria—the Everfree Forest to be exact. Luna felt rejuvenated to have finally been back to the place she missed the most after spending centuries on the moon. After the jittery sense of joy had passed, Luna was reminded of Celestia, and the summer solstice. She smiled at the nightly critters scurrying across the forest floor, then took in a deep breath knowing that she would need it for her ambitious intentions. She was back in Equestria, and now, Luna's next task was to confront her sister after all these years. Luna teleported again, this time reappearing in Celestia's room...

Celestia was looking in the mirror, brushing her mane with magic when Luna appeared behind her. "Its been a while, sister," Luna said deviously.

Celestia jumped back in shock. "Luna?"

"You have no right to call me that! Not after what you've done!" Luna snapped back at Celestia. Celestia's mouth hung open while Luna tried hiding the smile that secretly enjoyed seeing her sister startled.

"H-how did you get back?" Celestia's eyes were wide and her hooves shook.

"You should be asking me what I plan to do now that I'm back... I know what you did. You used the Elements Of Harmony! You imprisoned me on the moon, and you stole my control of the night sky!" Luna shouted. Her voice echoed against the walls of Celestia's room.

Celestia confessed, "I had to use the Elements Of Harmony. You were being irrational. What was I suppose to do? I didn't want to, but you left me no choice."

"I don't care! You are unfit to rule Equestria," said Luna, "I came back to regain control of my night, and to deprive you of your throne."

"Oh no you won't!" shouted Celestia while her horn glowed brightly.

Celestia fired a magic ray of light at Luna, but Luna easily blocked Celestia's spell with a magic field. The ray of light dissipated into the air. Luna pointed her horn up in the air. Her eyes glowed silver as her horn fired a bolt of lighting at Celestia. Celestia was thrown to the floor stunned.

Luna knew her magic was stronger, but she never had the chance to see just how much more powerful she became until now. Celestia's magic was effortlessly dispelled, and she was knocked on her back with a single spell. The fight was clearly one-sided—almost as one-sided as their first encounter was, but this time the Luna was the victor. Luna stood over Celestia, and her horn glowed bright, ready to cast another detrimental spell.

From laying flat on her side, Celestia knew she had lost. There was no hope in being able to control Luna as easily as before. From the ground Celestia's horn flashed brightly, and equally as quick, Celestia vanished before Luna could cast her finishing spell. The bright flash temporarily blinded Luna. Celestia had teleported to an unknown location. After Luna discovered her sister was gone, she lowered her horn, and ceased its magical charge.

Luna shouted out, "Go ahead and run! I'll be ready when you come back, and in the meantime, I'll be watching your throne."

Luna scanned around the room. It changed from the vague memory Luna had of the place. Furnishings and color schemes had all changed. But one thing was still the same: Celestia still kept her writing table by the bedroom window. Luna approached the table, which had a flier for the Summer Solstice. She read it:

The Summer Solstice,

This years celebration will be held in Ponyville. Come to the Town Hall to witness Celestia's magic raise the sun. Refreshments will be provided. Celestia will begin raising the sun for the longest day of the year.

Luna thought to herself, Probably worth checking out. Luna teleported, leaving Celestia's room, and reappearing in Ponyville's Town Hall.

Luna appeared on the stage. The Town Hall was filled with pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies. Luna didn't recognize any of them, but all of them had the same startled expression when she appeared.

Luna spoke with a sense of control, "Oh my beloved subjects, its been so long since I've seen your precious, little sun-loving faces..." Everypony fearfully trembled in place. "Don't you know who I am? Does my crown no longer count now that I had been imprisoned for 1,000 years? Did you not see the signs?"

"I did!" Interrupted a young mare's voice, "And I know who you are! You're the mare on the moon!"

Luna was shocked that after 1,000 years, there was still at least a unicorn who remembered her. Not only was Luna being recognized, but she was for the first time respected as a powerful, and authoritative alicorn.

Luna jeered, "Remember this day little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forward, the night will last forever!"