My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Night
Chapter Seven: Disparity
So many of them: So afraid. They all ran, crying out for Princess Celestia to save them. The night was so cold: So dark. When they found no peace in their dreams, they fled for their loved ones. Maybe they knew it was hopeless. Maybe they do not know what hopelessness is. There was one, one single stallion, that couldn't get away. He died within minutes, right before my eyes. Thankfully, the foals did not see: Their names were Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle: Three little fillies who chose to spend the night awake, together. They have much to learn, much to fear. They took shelter in the shadows that night. Perhaps they are the Children of the Night. Soon, they shall all know the true essence of night, and all shall be as it was intended to be. Her eyelids parting as a sharp gasp struck through her waking body, Princess Celestia felt the pain of her subjects in the darkest hour of the night.
Awakened as well, dark insect-eyelids opened to reveal large, green, nearly glowing pupils, and stilled, armored legs crackled as they left their resting position, as the queen of the Changelings opened her fleshless, fanged mouth with an awful cry of hope and pleasure. Thin, sharp, translucent, blue wings littered with natural holes to allow for faster flight unfolded from the creature's back and flared out at her sides. Her long, black, jagged horn flowing with green energy that created small fires of the same color, the hive-mother awakened her thousands of children from their merciful slumber. Tired, weak, crystalline eyes opened, natural armor creaked and cracked, and cries were let out. Her long, flat, silk, blue hair dropped over her neck, the Alicorn-like queen flew to the center of the underground world and faced the hordes of starving, Pegasus-like black fillies: All of them hungry, all of them abandoned by all else, and all of them connected with their mother and queen. For centuries, the wanting, hungry, needful wretches waited and slowly starved in the darkness under Equestria, relying entirely on their mother, Queen Chrysalis. Collectively crying and begging, the young looked to their only source of hope. "My children," the great and terrible hive-mother declared, her voice strong, laced with spite, and enhanced by a natural echoic distortion. "Our time draws near. Soon, we shall never be hungry or unloved again. Soon…"
"Twilight, are you okay?" Spike asked of his best friend. Seeing Twilight's darkened eye lids, bloodshot eyes, unkempt mane, and hints of dried, cold sweat, the dragon was growing concerned.
"I'm fine, Spike," the young Unicorn graciously answered. "What's up?"
"Princess Celestia sent you a message," the baby dragon explained, taking his friend's word. "I think it's urgent." Spike handed Twilight the unopened letter and took a step back.
Reading through Princess Celestia's note, the young mare, still weary from nightmares and restless sleep, strained her tired eyes, only to be met with horror. "Oh, goddess," she exclaimed in a gasp. "Spike, I have to go…Keep the doors and windows closed and locked. Don't open up for anypony, okay?"
"Twilight, what's happening?" the baby dragon insisted. "Is everypony okay?"
"Yeah, everything's okay," Twilight answered, gathering her supplies. "I'll tell you everything when I get back. Don't be afraid, baby. Send a message to my friend Zecora for me, please. Have her come over. She has the key. I've gotta go now. Love you, Spike."
"Love you too, Twilight," Spike replied, closing up a window before writing out the letter. "Be careful, okay?" The Unicorn smiled at her friend, kissed his scaly forehead, and departed to meet Celestia as ordered.
Arriving at their secret haven, Twilight bowed before Princess Celestia as Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinky Pie, Rarity, and Princess Luna stepped forward. The young mares all appeared tired and worn, and Rarity had clearly been throwing up. Seeing the Princess of the Night, the Unicorn bowed once more before being put at ease and joining her friends. "It is good you are all here," Princess Celestia declared. "I bring bad tidings to you all." Luna stood at her sister's side, facing the Mane 6. "As Applejack already knows, Ponyville has been attacked."
"Apple Bloom's safe n' sound now," the orange Pony assured her friends. "But her and her friends saw somethin' terrible swoop at 'em last night." All but the princesses were shocked and deeply troubled.
"Worse yet, one pony has died," Princess Celestia sorrowfully declared, lowering her head and closing her eyes as her mane flowed.
"…No," Fluttershy quietly begged, feeling the pain of another living being taken before their time.
"He was taken during my night," Princess Luna declared with anger welling up in her voice. "Under the light of my Moon…But I was powerless to stop it." Even now, I feel his pain, as if he were here with me. Princess Celestia wrapped her wing around her sister in an act of comforting.
"Who…What could've done something like this?" Twilight asked fearfully.
"That, we do not know," the Princess of Day confessed. "We have reason to believe a long-forgotten race known as the Changelings may have been responsible."
"Changelings?" Pinky replied with a confused look on her face and a single raised eyebrow. "What's that?"
"They're shape shifters," Twilight explained, trying to keep herself calm. "Legends say they can turn into anypony and feed off their friends and family's love for them."
"In short, yes," Princess Celestia declared with a sense of sorrow in her voice. "They first came to our knowledge in the Second Age, when they attempted to assimilate with the rest of Equestria. Although we could not understand what made them different from us, we all tried to make them feel welcome. However, their behavior quickly grew hostile, and their queen, Mother Chrysalis, evermore reclusive. Under her rule, the Changelings sought to overrun the kingdom. We were all younger then, and could see no compromise. So, we cast them underground, where they have remained. They feed off the ambient emotion of the land under the hive-mind of their queen and mother. Much of their origin and intentions still remain a mystery." Her very heart pained at the thought of an entire race having to live underground, Fluttershy turned away and held back empathetic tears.
"We have tried making contact with them over the years," Princess Luna continued, her memories somewhat hazy. "But they were never willing to negotiate peacefully. They seemed so unlovable, but we knew they could love and be loved in return. However, they will not return as friends."
"But…whah now?" Applejack asked. "Ah mean, they've been gone so long…What's kept them away in the past?"
"A shield," the Princess of Day answered, lowering her head. "A terrible wall forged out of fear. We never wanted to cast such a spell, but our greatest priority has always been to protect our subjects. The Changelings should have been a part of our kingdom from the start…but we were all foolish." The Mane 6 looked at one another, not knowing how to take the damning truth of the past. "We do not know who the attackers are for certain, but the six of you deserve to know of any potential threat in our midst."
Struggling to keep her passions and emotions under control, Rainbow Dash began to step forward, her body lightly trembling as she approached her princesses. Silence filled the room as the young Pegasus came to a halt at a respectful distance. Letting out a sharp, angry breath, Rainbow Dash lowered herself onto her knees and dropped her head to face the ground. "…I humble myself before you, my princesses," she swallowed her pride. "But I have to know…Why was…so much kept from everypony? Did…Did we fail your trust?" Princess Luna clenched her eyes into a scowl and turned to her sister.
Princess Celestia calmed her baby sister, approached Rainbow Dash, and placed her hoof upon the young Pegasus' shoulder. "Rainbow," she gently declared with the voice of a loving mother. "We have all made mistakes. In time, you and your friends will be told everything. Until then, trust that there is nothing we will conceal from our subjects. You needn't be afraid, and you needn't doubt yourself. All will make sense someday, I promise you." Whispering something into the mare's ear, Princess Celestia slowly moved away, and Rainbow Dash mouthed a grateful "thank you" under her breath before returning to her friends' side.
"Please forgive the interruption, my mistresses," Violent Rose, a pink Pegasus guard whose piercing purple and green-laced irises were trumped only by a somewhat vibrant red scar running down her left eye. Upon looking further, the ponies could see that the guard's wings were both red mechanicals, implying past injuries. In full uniform and wearing her helmet, she was intimidating and staunch. "Princess Celestia, your presence is needed outside when possible."
"Thank you, my knight," Princess Celestia warmly replied, allowing Rose to salute and depart from the room. "You all have my blessing. I will send for you if any news comes to me. Thank you all for coming here this day." The Mane 6 bowed to their rulers and left for home.
As is frozen, Princess Luna remained motionless, staring into space with a look of growing shock and disbelief on her face. Princess Celestia approached her sister slowly, only for her to depart hastily. "Excuse me, sister," the Princess of Night nervously declared. "I must tend to something." Knowing there was nothing more she could do, Princess Celestia slowly turned away and went where she was needed. Her vision blurring and clearing back up every minute, Princess Luna did her best to compose herself, knowing her subjects were watching. Wiping something out of her eye, the Alicorn blinked and focused her gaze before flaring her wings and ascending to flight. Even as the Sun shined through her starry mane, visions of the night flashed through her mind. For an instant, the town of Ponyville became cold and red with innocent blood shed from hours ago. Shaking off the troubling visions and horrific truth that she had mercifully been protected from, Luna flew higher into the air to hide beyond a veil of clouds. Night Mare Moon's sadistic expression flashed like lightning, only to vanish as she revealed her bestial fangs with laughter. Then, in an instant, the truth made itself known, and Luna wept alone atop a single, darkened cloud.
Unlocking the door to her home, Twilight quietly entered with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinky Pie behind her. With the Sun several hours from setting, Spike and Zecora set down their playing cards and warmly welcomed their loved ones back home. Applejack gave her friends a warm goodbye and goodnight before returning to Sweet Apple Acres, where Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, and Big Mac were waiting. The family engaged in a loving group hug, as Rarity and Sweetie Belle did later that night. Twilight kept her friends, especially Spike and Fluttershy, close to her that night. Staring out the window until the mare in charge of the orphanage came to tuck her into bed, Scootaloo found her own comfort, though she yearned to have a family all to herself. Pinky found herself thinking about the Fluffy Pony once more, even as she enjoyed the company of Twilight and the others. Vinyl Scratch and Octavia closed the blinds on their apartment windows and held one another. Derpy Hooves let her feline visitor inside and closed the door after praying for the safety of those around her. As the Sun finally set, Luna raised her Moon and lit up the stars, knowing that, somewhere among the constellations, her mother and father lived on.
As the night descended on Equestria, the ponies blew out their candles, found shelter, closed their windows, and locked their doors. The stallion that had been placed in an early, eternal sleep would join the stars soon, but for now he rested in a small, dark temple where no harm or light would touch him again. Making her way to her childhood room in the great castle in Canterlot, flying on tired and worn wings, Princess Luna felt the world around her slowly drift off into sleep. Flying in through the open window, the Alicorn unlocked the door to her chamber and pushed it open: Nothing had been moved, touched, or covered by any form of dust or harm since her departure. Even her bed was neatly made and awaiting the sad little filly to rest upon it. Closing and relocking the door behind her, Luna finally allowed herself to truly cry. Although so much of what happened was a blur, she knew that she was the one who stole life from an innocent pony.
"It's over now, I know inside," the Alicorn princess declared, her eyes soaked in hot tears as she walked through her old room. Even now, the phantoms of the past played out on the silent winds of yesteryear. The Changelings would not strike, and the truth would be discovered soon enough. I'm so sorry, Tia, Luna cried to herself as the night grew darker. I'm sorry for everything, Twilight. Gazing at her own unhappy reflection in an aged mirror, the Princess of Night let out a heavy sigh of mourning for the life she never had. In time, all of Equestria would know the tragedy of Night Mare Moon, and Luna's memory would be cast into the fires forever more. What pained her the most, though, was the thought of her sister finding her when it was all over. This was the only way to stop the madness and suffering: One final gift to all the world from the Princess of the Night. All-Maker, have mercy on me for what I must do. Closing her eyes to embrace the finality of her choice, Luna wept silently in the empty tower.
"Do you really think… that I would ever let you go?" the hated voice declared, forcing Luna to open her eyes. "Do you even think that I would set you free?" Her voice was so strong, so full of mockery and hatred. "If you do, I'm sad to say, it simply…isn't so. You will never get away from me." Stepping out from the shadows, Night Mare Moon approached Luna, her very appearance a twisted reflection of the princess. Her malicious smile flaring, the monster continued to step closer and closer to her creator and pawn. "I am you, Luna. I always have been…Always will be. I exist because of you…As a part of you. As long as you live, I will remain."
"Your existence means nothing," Princess Luna declared in anger. "You are only my mistake. Soon, Equestria will be rid of us both. You were never anything more than a nightmare: a cruel dream made up by an unhappy filly."
"This is not a dream, my dear, and it will never end!" the beast cackled, surrounding Luna with wings of darkness. "This one is the nightmare that goes on!" Terror overflowed within the Alicorn's heart as Moon grew stronger. "I am here to stay, no matter what you may pretend! And I'll flourish long after you're gone!"
"You're a lie!" Princess Luna called out, lashing out and lunging at a reflection that was not there. "Soon, you will die and my silence will hide you!" Within the throngs of tragedy and self destruction, the Princess of Night stood staunch one last time. The price was fair in order to keep those she loved safe.
Night Mare Moon cackled wildly, spreading lashes of darkness in every corner of reality. "I live inside you forever!" she declared with malicious glee. Flapping her fearsome wings, the beast took to flight, circling the one who brought her into existence.
"You're wrong!" Luna hollered. "It's over! All of it!" Moon gritted her fangs and smiled a mocking smile. "It's over now! It's time to die!"
"No, not I: Only you!" the wicked mare declared as her terrible power began to radiate throughout her body. Flaring out her black, bat-like wings, Moon transformed the room into a veil of darkness filled with lifeless and purple stars of blood, all under a dark and horrible Moon that threatened to swallow all life and light. "There is nothing you can ever do to rid the world of me! I am, as I have always been, in control of all that you do! I will fulfill our dream and spread the Eternal Night across all of Equestria!" A young, timid, angry, and lonely Princess Luna sat alone before a reflective pond, allowing the wind to blow her mane in the night's sky. In that night, Night Mare Moon took the filly in her evil wings and nestled her in endless darkness. "Deny it no longer, my dear…You are Night." Closing her eyes and weeping silently, Luna lost all strength, and was enveloped by Moon's wickedness and hatred. As the room returned to its natural state, the dark Alicorn spread her wings and laughed in her victory. The nightmare had just begun.
Violent Rose was created by Laela Dakota and featured with permission.
"The Confrontation", as performed by Dragonfoxgirl and featured in RaptorNX01's [SFM Ponies] Confrontation video, is based on the song of the same name performed on Broadway's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse.