My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Night
Chapter Nine: The Eternal Light
With all of Equestria trapped in an eternal night, at the time Princess Celestia would be raising her Sun, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinky Pie, and Spike, each clad in different robes and outfits constructed and passed out by Rarity, made their way through Ponyville. All the while, the gang dodged the relentless eye of Night Mare Moon's guards. Upon reaching the city, they found nothing but a ghost town being stalked by a skeleton crew of Bat-Pony sentries. Without the presence of light, Spike and the Mane 6 felt their strength and resolve fading as the desire to give into what felt like eternal sleep grew stronger.
"You know this won't work," the wretched voice taunted Twilight. "You can't stop this: Nopony could ever stop it. You will get each, and every one of your friends killed. The last thing they will know will be your failure, and your fault." With a sharp breath, the young Unicorn shook away the unpleasant vision and pulled Spike closer.
"What kinda monster would wanna world lak this?" Applejack asked in a whisper, feeling the fear and coldness all around her.
"The same one that killed our queen," Rainbow Dash snarled in disgust as she continued to walk, rather than fly.
"Just remember, this might not be Luna's fault," Twilight replied, pulling the group off to the side near a large apartment complex. "She might be just another victim of the darkness. She still has to answer for what she did, though."
"Everypony, stop!" Rarity gasped, freezing in place. "Look…" Following the white Unicorn's direction, the others saw an entire unit of Bat-Pony sentries in possession of what looked like a Great Ursa, headed towards them. "Move inside, quickly!"
Spike and the Ponies concealed themselves in their disguises and slipped inside the apartment. With no torches lit and nopony in sight, the entire building appeared abandoned. Using her horn to create a dim light, Twilight guided her friends up the stairs and away from the listening distance of those who hunted them. Looking around, Fluttershy attempted to find something recognizable in the nearly pitch-black building.
"Oooh," Pinky Pie cooed with enthusiasm. "This is so creepy and spooky, like one of those stories. What if some big, scary monster with really long arms and legs jumped out of nowhere and made everypony…"
"This might not be the best tam for ghost stories, sugar cube," Applejack declared in a whisper. "An' try tuh keep yer voice down. We can't let any of those guards hear us." Nodding excitedly, Pinky zipped her lips shut and saluted.
Finally, the group came to the top of the stairs and began feeling around for a door. Finding a knob, Fluttershy slowly opened the door for the others. Twilight shined her light to find a small, unfurnished studio filled with frightened mares, stallions, and foals pressed against the walls behind boarded windows. Among the crowd, Octavia and Vinyl Scratch, Derpy Hooves, Bulk Biceps, Wind Walker and Wind Rider, and the Cutie-Mark Crusaders stood out: They were all timid, shaking, and so afraid. Vinyl's headphones and sunglasses were back on, concealing her horn and wings as Octavia held her tightly. "Thank goddess it's you," the Wind brother and sister declared in harmony.
"Are all y'all alright?" Applejack asked, stepping inside the room and walking towards the Crusaders.
"We're all okay," a green-haired Pony answered. "Everypony's pretty shook up, though."
Twilight looked over those taking shelter to make sure they were unharmed, Pinky took it upon herself to comfort Bulk as he cried profoundly, Applejack reassured the Crusaders, promising them that her and her friends would do everything in their power to make things right, Fluttershy crouched down before Octavia and Vinyl, Spike and Rarity did what they could to comfort the others, even after some protested a dragon helping them, and Rainbow Dash elected to watch the door for intruders. Even in an eternal night, Spike and the Mane 6 brought hope to the others, though they struggled to find their own.
"You lil' Crusaders gonna be alright?" Applejack asked once the little ones' tears had ceased. Skydancer snuffed back her fear and turned to check on her friends. Minty nodded at the others, leaving Sweetheart to speak on their behalf. "We're okay, Applejack," she answered with growing confidence. "Thank you."
"And the foals are all safe, AJ," Derpy called out, trying to focus on the orange Pony. "I was on my way back home when the bats came…They chased me here." Relieved, Applejack hugged the Pegasus tightly, bringing a smile to both of their faces.
"Vinyl, your wings," Fluttershy declared, seeing that her friend was in hiding once more.
"I…I told you guys before," the blue-haired Pony sobbed, holding her hooves over her headphones. Sniffling sharply, Vinyl Scratch turned away. "Without my 'phones, I can't focus because of all the outside noise. There's too much…there's just too much."
Wanting to give her friend her space, Fluttershy stepped back and looked to Octavia. "She'll be alright," she assured the sunny Pegasus. "I just need to keep her calm. It was all too much for her back there."
"Vinyl, just remember to breathe," Fluttershy spoke softly to her friend. "When you can, count out ten things you know are real."
"Ten things…" Vinyl managed to choke out, nodding her head out of stress. "Got it…Thanks." Octavia smiled at the Pegasus, continuing to embrace the white Pony.
Soon, everything began to calm down, and the restless found rest. Knowing they were safe for the moment, the Mane 6 and Spike laid their weary heads down and slept as their friends watched over them. The Cutie-Mark Crusaders made a promise to fight off the nightmares as their heroes slept, so they stood guard.
Sitting atop the corrupted Throne of Sunlight that her sister once rested upon, Night Mare Moon awaited her company with a piercing glare and impatient breaths. "Behold!" her personal entertainer cried out with her usual, pompous tone. "My Great…and Terrible powers!" Waving her hooves over her discarded top-hat, Trixie, a darker-aqua-coated Unicorn gifted with the Cutie-Mark of a star-topped wand in front of a Crescent-Moon-shaped mist, summoned her magic to pull a rabbit out of thin air. "Do you see?! The Great and Powerful Trixie has done the impossible yet again!"
"You bore me, foal," Night Mare Moon declared coldly. "You betrayed your own just to prove to me that you are the lowest they had to offer. Leave me before my patience expires."
"Very well," the crestfallen Unicorn declared. "I shall return upon your call, my queen. Trixie shall take her leave." Suddenly, a cloud of glittery white smoke erupted around the traitor, and by the time it faded, Trixie was already on her way out of the room. Snarling, the dark Alicorn awaited the Mane 6 in silence.
With Celestia dead, Night Mare Moon felt her power and rage continue to grow as her pain and sorrow ran rampant. With the day finally murdered, the Princess of Night had lost all limitations. Cadance would fall easily enough, leaving all of Equestria under the rule of the Moon. Everything was falling perfectly into place with the blood of false idols.
Opening her eyes to see Sweetheart's backside as the filly stood in front of her, Twilight slowly reached out her hoof and gently touched the white little Pony's shoulder. Glancing back, Sweetheart saw Twilight's smile inform her she was relieved of duty. "Thanks, angel," the Unicorn whispered. Smiling back, the Crusader nodded and lay down beside Derpy to get some sleep. Turning to her friends, Twilight saw Spike and the other mares peacefully wake up and let their temporary protectors get their own much-needed sleep.
"Time to move?" Rainbow Dash enthusiastically whispered, putting her disguise back on. Twilight nodded with a smile and led her friends back downstairs, but not before Fluttershy left a note with Octavia.
With the sentries long-gone, the Mane 6 and Spike snuck out of their temporary haven and moved onward with relative freedom. The last one out, Pinky quietly pulled the door closed, whispered something to her friends inside, and joined the others. However, something caught her attention: "Check inside here," a gruff voice called out. Knowing what she had to do, the pink Pony looked at her friends and tightened her hood around her face. "Everypony," she whispered. "I'll meet up with you in a sec." Sneaking back towards the apartment, swallowing her own terror, Pinky Pie saw two guards beginning to move inside the apartment. "Hey, colts!" she called out, getting the attention of the sentries.
"Hold it right there!" a charcoal-gray Bat-Pony demanded, leaving the apartment to attend to the target. "Identify yourself at once!"
"Maybe later, but right now I wanna play a game!" Pinky excitedly declared, getting the attention of the rest of the guards. "Do any of you know…Ooh! I've got one: Tag!" As the Bat-Ponies cornered the mare, having forgotten their objective, Pinky leapt onto the shoulders of the unit captain and tagged him. "Tag! You're it!" Jumping away, the hyper Pony seemed to disappear from sight.
"Where'd she go?" another guard demanded, scanning the area.
"No, wait!" Pinky yelped, popping up beside the other sentries. "I changed my mind: I want you to be it!" Turning around sharply, the Bat-Pony accidentally collided with another guard and knocked him out. "W-what are you?!"
"Well, that's kind of complicated," Pinky giggled, performing a belly-slide past the fearful guard. "All the cards I made say I'm a party planner, but you can't really plan a party. You've just gotta make it awesome! But other ponies say I'm a pink Pony who gets overly excited too easily. I don't think I get overly excited. Do you?"
"Captain, I think I've got her!" the guard declared, swinging the handle of his spear like a baseball bat, only for it to collide with his commander's helmet and knock him out. "Captain?! I can't be the last one here!"
"Those other Bat-Ponies weren't much fun!" Pinky Pie wined, popping up next to the guard. "Who falls asleep during a game of tag this exciting? I guess it's just you and me then. Hey, can I borrow your big, hairy helmet sometime? I have a friend who can totally get rid of all those split ends on it."
Driven into a panic, the Bat-Pony jumped forward at what he believed to be his attacker, only to collide with a tree and pass out. "Oh, come on!" Pinky cried out. "You guys are so low-energy: Drink some coffee or something. Ugh!" Knowing her friends were safe, the pink Pony called Applejack to tie the guards to a nearby tree. "And because you've all been so mean…I'm gonna confiscate your hairy hat!" With that, Pinky removed the sentry's helmet and placed it on her head. "Sweet."
"Pinky, that was the most unbelievable stunt you've ever pulled," Rainbow Dash declared. "…Well done."
"Hey, being brave is all about doing wha'chu gotta do, even if you're scared," the pink Pony explained, bouncing forward with her shiny new helmet. "Speaking of scary things, we should probably get going." Throwing off the helmet, Pinky donned her disguise once more and followed the others towards the castle. And I don't think anypony found out that I peed a little bit, the Pony congratulated herself.
As the group made it out of the city, Fluttershy looked back to see Spike starting to slow down. Twilight was becoming stressed and overly-focused on other matters, keeping her from seeing the state her friend was in. Turning around, the sunny Pegasus stopped Spike, gently picked him up with her lip-covered teeth by the fleshy spot on his neck between his green spines, and flipped him onto her back. "Pull your hood up, Spike," she softly instructed the baby dragon as he made himself comfortable.
"Thank you, Fluttershy," Spike graciously mumbled, doing as he was told before falling asleep once more. The Pegasus smiled at her little friend, willing to ease his struggle even if it added to her own.
"Look at this place," Rainbow Dash suddenly spoke out. "It's never been this dark…not even at night. This is like Tartarus, only colder." There was a grave nature to the mare's voice, almost making those around her feel sorry for her rather than angered at Moon. "She murdered Equestria…and I'm gonna make sure she pays for it."
"Dash, you're lettin' your emotions talk for you," Applejack replied, her voice stern but sympathetic. "But it's not hate that Ah'm hearin' in your voice: It's all pain, isn't it?" At first, Rainbow Dash prepared to fight back, but she soon accepted the truth and turned her head away the others and towards the horizon. "Night Mare Moon took your queen from you…Made you watch the whole damned thing…Made us all feel powerless. I can tell you're torn up, but you've gotta figure out why."
"I know," the Pegasus confessed with a silent sigh. "I feel like a foal again…I swore I'd never be powerless again."
"You're not powerless, darling," Rarity declared. "That's why we're doing this. We may not have had a chance before, but we can stop that monster from doing any more damage."
"Sounds like a plan," Dash gave in with relief in her voice.
"Just remember to use your emotions: Don' let 'em use you," Applejack concluded as the party moved forward across the plains. Rainbow Dash decided to keep her friends' advice to heart as she nodded back.
"We're getting closer," Twilight declared, never taking her eyes off the horizon. "How's everypony doing?"
"Okey dokey Loki!" Pinky Pie declared with a bold leap into the air, only to be hushed by the others.
"Those Bat-Ponies could be anywhere, Pinky," Rarity warned in a whisper. "We must try to keep our voices down."
"I'm starting to get a little worried about Twilight," Fluttershy whispered to Rainbow Dash. "She doesn't seem quite right."
"I know what you mean," the sky-blue Pegasus answered. "No one was closer to Queen Celestia than her. I've been losing it, but she's got something major going on inside: I can feel it. What about you, though? How 'er you taking all this, Flutters?"
"The whole thing is so sad," Fluttershy answered, her soft voice not disturbing Spike's sleep. "It doesn't excuse the horrible things she did, but Luna had so much pain in her childhood. And being trapped on the Moon for all those years, all alone, must have been terrible for her. But then she murdered Celestia, and broke everypony's heart…even her own, I think. I just hope that, once Night Mare Moon is gone, everything can go back to the way it was. Maybe Luna and Celestia will get a chance to come back in a happier life." Touched by her friend's naïve ideas, Rainbow Dash felt her heart warmed, and she gave Fluttershy a quick but loving hug. "I know you don't think any of that'll happen, Dashy, but it doesn't hurt to think about happily ever after, especially at times like this."
"Applejack," Rarity said to her friend. "I must know…how can you stay so composed in all this? You have to be feeling scared or nervous about all this."
"I am," the orange Pony answered, her hood blocking half of her face. "Truth is, Ah'm terrified. Tryin' tuh keep mah mind off the worst of it, but it's just so surreal. Eats me up insad that Luna could do something so terrible, and to her own sister. I'm keepin' all that stuffed down, though."
"That doesn't sound like the best idea, AJ," the Unicorn replied with concern in her voice. "Don't hold your tongue for our sake. Your feelings and fears are just as important as ours."
Letting out a sigh, the cowpony lowered her head before raising it up and staring at the faint light of the darkened stars above her. "Rarity, Ah know we've had our troubles in the past, but there's something Ah feel like I gotta tell you," Applejack finally gave in. "You remember the times Ah talked about my parents?"
"You seldom bring them up, but I remember," Rarity answered with sensitivity.
"Well, Ah think you should know the truth," the Pony replied, her tone growing heavy. "Ah told jus' about everypony that Ma and Pa Apple passed away when Apple Bloom was a yearling…" Rarity nodded with compassion in her eyes. "That wasn't the whole story. Ah told the truth, but Ah stretched it fer their sake. Ma and Pa didn't die…not all the way, anyway. Ever since Ah was a filly, they hated me. They were both the black sheep of the Apple family, n'…Once Apple Bloom was born, they jus' left: No note, no 'goodbye', and nothin' left behind. Ah always held out hope they'd come back, but pretty soon I realized that anything good they had in them died the day they abandoned mah little sister and the rest of the family."
"Oh, Applejack," Rarity declared, feeling nothing but sorrow and compassion for her friend. "That's so like you to find the good in others, even at your own expense." Applejack nodded slightly, trying to hide the tears she cried. "And you kept that secret for the sake of those who would thank you for it." Suddenly, everything started to make sense: Apple Bloom needed the memory of her parents, whether they earned Applejack's praise or not. The day they left, Applejack took on the role of mother and father for her baby sister, keeping her own pain hidden away for the sake of the young one. "AJ… you don't ever have to hold back your true feelings from any of us. Let us help you as you have helped all of us…And thank you…for telling me your truth. I know it wasn't easy."
"Thanks fer understanding," the orange Pony warmly replied. "Feels like a weight's off mah back. Just…you're sure about what you said?"
"We're all ears whenever you need us to be, darling," the Unicorn proudly answered. "Like now."
Letting out a heavy sigh, Applejack dropped her head and stared at the ground through tear-blurred eyes. "Ah know Moon did all this…but how could Celestia leave us like this?" she sorrowfully confessed as her voice began to break up. "Ponies 'er always leaving me."
Rarity placed her hoof around her friend as they continued to walk. "We'll see her again one day, Applejack," she promised. "And she's not gone…She's up in the sky whenever you need her. And don't forget, she left all of us here with you. She's always here with you, just like the rest of us. Now let's make her proud."
"Thanks, Rarity," AJ warmly replied, leaning against her friend. "An' Ah'm here if you ever need to let anything off yer chest." Smiling, the white Unicorn graciously agreed to keep her friend's offer in mind.
Snapping out of her daze, Twilight glanced back at Spike and Fluttershy. "Hey, Flutters," the purple Unicorn said in a hushed tone. "I'll carry him the rest of the way, if you don't mind."
"Sure," the sunny Pegasus agreed, allowing Twilight to take hold of the baby dragon with her magic and place him on her own back. "Thank you." The Unicorn smiled at her friend to thank her for all she had done. "Twilight…We're…we're starting to worry about you. You seem different lately. I know things have gone very wrong…but you haven't opened up to anypony about it. I know you well enough to know you're hiding something…So what's wrong?"
Letting out a sigh, Twilight attempted to gather her thoughts. "There's so much I can't piece together," she began with strain in her voice. "But…Queen Celestia was always like a mother to me. She was never just a mentor. Without her…it's like I lost my balance and I can't get it back. I'm sorry I kept it from all of you…I just haven't been able to realize it myself."
"Why's your mind so broken up?" Fluttershy gently persisted. She knew Twilight Sparkle well enough to see that something deeper was troubling her: Celestia's death was an unparalleled tragedy, but not even that was enough to scatter Twilight's thoughts.
"…I don't know," the Unicorn confessed, stopping cold in her tracks. "And that scares me." No longer able to stay strong, she began to sob quietly.
"I wish I could carry you," the sunny Pegasus declared. Twilight looked at her friend, her expression reflecting her vulnerable state as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. "Not just to rest your legs, but to take all this fear and pain from you…I know I can't do that…but I am here for you. We all are. Nopony can be strong all the time."
"…Thanks, Fluttershy," Twilight let out a relieved sigh as she hugged her friend, being careful not to disturb Spike. "Sometimes I wish I was you…How can you see through all the walls we've all built up inside? Don't you have any of your own?"
The shy Pegasus shook her head. "I mean…I know there are times when you have to be strong," she explained, expression tightening as she put all her thoughts together. "But…sometimes, you're stronger for being weak, if just for a little bit. Emotions and secrets need to be let out…We want to let them out, but it just gets scary sometimes. In the end, it's better to cry with your friends and family…than to look fearless around everypony else…Does that make sense?"
Awestruck, Twilight took a second to breathe it all in. "…Yeah," she answered, as if stirred by an epiphany. "Yeah, I…I think it does…Thank you." Fluttershy smiled and gave her friend a quick hug with her wings. As they continued on their way, Twilight stared at her friend for a moment. …Thank you, Celestia, she prayed with the deepest of relief. Thank you so much for giving her to me. Looking up to the sky, even in the darkness of eternal night, the young Unicorn felt something warm her heart: Something the voice could never touch.
Sitting upon her throne in complete darkness and isolation, Night Mare Moon closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to remember the past. Celestia, always so proud and bold, stood before a sad and angry little Luna. "Let me go, Tia!" the Alicorn filly cried out at the top of her little lungs as tears began to fall from her eyes.
"Luna, the Sun belongs to me," the elder sister replied. "I'm the only one that can sit on its throne. You will get the Throne of the Moon once you can raise it." Closing her eyes in defeat, the little princess turned and ran from the throne room, leaving Celestia all alone.
Tightening her glare, Moon began to grit her teeth behind closed lips. All the happiness of the past seemed sparse and long-gone. "I hate you, Tia!" Luna had cried out in the depth of her loneliness. "You think being a princess is more important than being my sister!" Her Cutie-Mark flashing a reddish color, the young mare ran towards her room. She knew her sister's foolishness: Celestia's subjects could never love her as much as her sister did. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!"
Even now, the screams were so vivid, and the tears left their bitter, salty taste in the dark Alicorn's mouth. With Celestia gone forever, the night would be all-powerful, but Night Mare Moon could still feel her sister's presence haunting her. "You have lost, sister," she declared in the silence of darkness. "Equestria belongs to the Moon. I regret only that I cannot see your shame in my eternal night…Oh, how I long to gaze upon your agony as your student and her allies fail and bend to my will." Feeling alone once more, the self-proclaimed queen cackled at her own glory and victory. As Celestia's mere memory began to fade, so too did any remaining trace of Princess Luna or the love her had in her aching, unnoticed heart.
Soon, the Mane 6 reached the castle, and Twilight carefully set Spike down and woke him from his nap. As their gaze turned to the large structure now guarded by Bat-Ponies, the mares and baby dragon took in a deep breath and prepared for their battle. Nervous, Spike stepped close to Rarity, who humored him and placed her hoof on his shoulder.
"This is the fight of our lives," Rainbow Dash declared with a grave tone.
"We do this for Queen Celestia, our friends and family, and the future of Equestria," Twilight added, her voice bold. "Is everypony in?" Not needing to wait for an answer, the young Unicorn heard each of her friends agree. "Spike, I need you to stay here and send a message back to Ponyville in case anything goes wrong, okay? Most important of all…stay safe."
"You too, Twilight," the brave little dragon replied. "Promise me you'll all come back."
"You've got my word," Applejack vowed with a tip of her hat. "But you've gotta promise us that you won't rush in and try to help us. We need you right where you are, Spike."
"I understand," Spike reluctantly accepted. "You're my best friends in the whole, wide world. And Rarity…" The white Unicorn began to grow nervous. "…You'll always have my heart, so make sure to bring it back in one piece."
"I promise, Spike," Rarity lovingly answered, charmed by the baby dragon's shameless affection. With that, she kissed Spike's forehead and rejoined the others. Only for an instant, the baby dragon blushed as his heart began to flutter and then pound.
"We'll see you soon, Spike," Fluttershy declared with a caring smile.
"Make sure you have an umbrella, little dragon," Pinky Pie said in a grave, smoky voice. "Cuz we're gonna bring the rain."
"I love you, Spike," Twilight warmly concluded, leaning down and kissing her dearest friend on his forehead. "You're the best partner and friend a pony could ever ask for. If anything goes wrong…I want you to send for Zecora, okay? She'll take care of you."
"Nothing is going to go wrong," Spike replied, growing defensive. "I know you can do it." Twilight smiled warmly at her friend, inspired by his faith in her and the others.
"…Um, I've never been very good at goodbyes…" Rainbow Dash explained, scratching the back of her neck. "So, um…" As she cleared her throat, Spike caught the Pegasus quickly wipe away a single tear. "Goodbye, Spike. We'll see you soon…So, uh…stay warm."
"You too, Dashy," Spike warmly answered.
With that, the Mane 6 parted ways from their beloved charge, making their ways towards the castle. Spike watched them until they were out of sight, and then took cover in a tall patch of grass. Twilight looked back one last time, prayed for her friend's safety, and continued on her way. Their greatest charge was about to begin.