My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Night
Chapter Ten: Twilight Sky
Since the beginning of time itself, day and night existed in harmony with one another under the love of the Sun and Moon, all in accordance with the All-Maker's wishes. In the Second Age, when sisters of the Sun and Moon were united at last, harmony reigned throughout all of Equestria and resounded throughout the land and heavens. Now, with the Sun lost and bound never to return, darkness, under sway of the corrupted Moon, consumed the skies and drowned the land in shadow. All hope in the horizon had vanished in the claws of the Eternal Night, rendering even the stars dark and silent. The winds continued to blow, but their touch was cold and unable to make the windmills spin or turn the tides of the lifeless waters.
As the Mane 6 approached the dark and guarded castle, Fluttershy glanced off into the plains: All the animals were so afraid and uneasy, and she could feel it all. Forced to remain grounded, Rainbow Dash attempted to cool her anger, keeping Scootaloo's need for her to return in mind. Stepping forward upon the grass, Applejack felt something unusual: It was as if something were wrong with the flora beneath her: It felt like it was weeping. Deep down, Pinky Pie knew her friends were losing their morale: This had all taken its toll, and the struggle had been going on for too long. Rarity remembered Spike's words, only to question if she truly belonged with the others: Surely, there was somepony better or stronger that deserved the honor more. Twilight Sparkle could still hear the voice, always telling her she wasn't enough: How could a pony as unspectacular as her ever be the one to lead in Celestia's name?
Once the castle's gate was in sight, Fluttershy halted the group and gestured towards the Bat-Ponies guarding the structure. "If they're anything like bats, their hearing is really good," the sunny Pegasus warned her friends. "I think we need a plan before we go on."
Her first impulse instructing her to lead a charge and overpower the guards, Rainbow Dash calmed herself enough to think clearly. "Maybe if we sneak around them and slip in the gate," she began, trying to keep her voice hushed.
"There's no way we can all get past 'em," Applejack carefully replied. "We should fand a way to distract the two long enough fer 'em to leave their post, then move inside before they notice. They'd hear us moving the doors otherwise."
"Sounds good," Twilight declared. "What should we use as a distraction?"
"Oooh, me!" Pinky excitedly cried out, prompting the others to tightly cover her mouth. "Sorry. I can distract them. I brought along my party-cannon just in case." The pink Pony wheeled out a small purple cannon for the others to see.
"Did you have that thing this whole time?" Rarity asked, having grown deeply confused. Pinky smiled and nodded.
"Just be careful, please, Pinky," Fluttershy timidly asked of her friend. "These ponies are really nasty."
"I promise, Flutters," the pink Pony replied with a smile. "Just need to set if off and stealth my way over to you guys. Piece of cake…Cake would be really good right now." Pausing for a second, Pinky Pie shook off her distraction and readied the distraction for the guards. "Wish me luck, mares."
"I don't think she's the one who needs luck," Twilight declared as Pinky wheeled her cannon away from the group. "Everypony, get ready to move in."
Sneaking through the grass, being careful not to rustle them as she crawled up to a tree, Pinky Pie stealthfully pulled her party-cannon as the blue bandana wrapped around her forehead blew in the wind. Come on, Pinky-Baby, you can do this, she boldly told herself as she tore her way through dirt and grass. For a second, the Pony debated looking back, fearing that her friends would be mocking her. However, the thought quickly left her mind out of both trust for her loved ones and her faith in herself and who she was. They're all counting on me…I'm the only pony that can do this, and I'm gonna do it my way: The Pinky Way! Her excitement and strength at its highest, Pinky Pie pulled the rope back, causing her party-cannon to release a blast of streamers, glitter, and balloons with a loud and thunderous burst.
"What was that?" one of the Bat-Pony guards cried out in shock.
"I don't know," the other sentry answered. "Come on, we might be under attack." The two charged towards the source of the noise, each of them ready for combat. Reaching their objective, the Bat-Ponies found only an empty cannon. "A cannon?"
"Who fired it?" the other guard replied, looking around. "Looks like it was filled with party supplies."
As the two Bat-Ponies studied the strange scene, Pinky led the gang into the gate. The Mane 6 quietly but quickly made their way inside. Last in the line, Rainbow Dash glanced back at the guards before quietly closing and locking the door behind her. Their suspicions growing, the Bat-Ponies pulled out their spears and violently destroyed the purple weapon. "Well, that killed it," one proudly declared to the other. Their work complete, the two walked back to their post and resumed guarding the castle.
"Great job, Pinky," Twilight praised her friend. The Unicorn's hushed voice still reflected her great pride, as did the others'. Remaining humble, Pinky blushed and smiled before returning to the mission at hoof.
"This place seems so different now," Fluttershy declared as she gazed around at the shadow-coated stone walls. Everything felt colder, as if sorrow itself took up residence in what was once a great castle. The very sight was heartbreaking, but the sunny Pegasus remained strong. "How are we gonna get to Night Mare Moon without the guards finding us?"
"We'll have tuh make do without any more light," Applejack answered, trying to recall their last visit. "We stick to shadows and make our way to the library…If that works fer you, boss." The orange Pony turned to Twilight Sparkle, inspiring the others to do the same.
"I'm not the boss, AJ," Twilight replied with humility in her voice. "We work as a team." The Mane 6 all agreed and set out, staying close to corners and dodging open spaces.
Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinky Pie pulled off against the left wall as Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack hung to the right. Together, the two groups moved forward until the hall came to a crossroad. Rainbow Dash began to peek out from the corner, only to feel a tap on her shoulder and quickly turn back to see Rarity handing her a compact mirror. Realizing her suggestion, the Pegasus smiled, nodded, and positioned the mirror to reflect a clear passage down the hallway. Looking to Twilight's group, Dash gestured towards Applejack and tossed her the mirror. Catching the compact, the Pony handed it off to Twilight, who caught the reflection of two guards positioned at the end of the rightward hall on opposite sides of the door. The Unicorn looked to her friends and quietly counted to two with her hoof. Checking the front and rear halls, Dash's group carefully made their way over to the right wall.
"Now what?" Pinky whispered. "They're blocking the only door to that yucky, old room with all the old books."
"It's too tight to pull anythin'," Applejack declared. "Those two hear a noise, they're gonna call in backup."
"And I can't cast a spell on more than one at a time," Twilight confessed. "That'll startle the other one."
"Then we've gotta get them both out of the way," Rainbow Dash replied. "I'm guessing we can't lure them out with a piece of pie."
"…I…I might have an idea, maybe," Fluttershy nervously volunteered, her voice growing more optimistic. "But it's really risky."
"What's the plan, Flutters?" Twilight asked, handing Rarity her mirror back.
"I could…well, I…I could use…The Stare on them," the Pegasus answered. "And while they're distracted, Rainbow Dash could slip by and find some way to put them to sleep, without hurting them, of course."
"Are you sure that will work on them, darling?" Rarity asked, fearing for her friend's safety. "These are trained professionals."
"It's the only chance we've got," Rainbow Dash replied. "You'll all have to be her backup. I'll take care of the guards."
"We believe in you two," Twilight declared with a smile. "Fly as fast as possible, Dashy."
"Do I ever not?" the sky-blue Pegasus confidently replied. Despite her seemingly extreme confidence, the others knew Rainbow Dash was grateful for their support. What she'd never admit to them, though, was that she had her doubts.
"Are y'all ready?" Applejack asked in a hushed tone. Fluttershy looked at the Pony for one last bit of encouragement, and was met with one of Applejack's reassuring winks.
"Go get 'em, fillies," Twilight announced just above a whisper.
"We have the utmost confidence in both of you," Rarity added, quickly and gently fixing Fluttershy's long, soft, pink mane.
The sunny Pegasus smiled warmly at her friends. "Dashy, I'll call for you when I'm ready, okay?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Rainbow Dash enthusiastically agreed as she stretched her wings. Pinky Pie watched the two get ready, holding back her own excitement.
Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy quietly stepped forward and turned down the rightward hall. Her soft heart pounding harder than ever, the Pegasus slowly approached the two guards. It's gonna go well, she told herself as she parted her tightly-shut eyes. Please, Celestia, give me your strength.
"Hey!" a charcoal-gray guard barked. "What are…" As the two Bat-Ponies readied their weapons, Fluttershy sharply locked her eyes into The Stare, freezing the two where they stood. Unable to look away or fight back, the guards became helpless in seconds, nearly drooling in their mindless gaze.
"Now!" Fluttershy called out without flinching. Suddenly, a gust of cool wind flowed over the Pegasus as a blue streak raced up behind the guards. Acting quickly, Rainbow Dash placed a hoof on each Bat-Pony's helmet and bashed them together in one flawless, fluent motion. The initial force of the impact, combined with the intense vibration of their heavy, metal helmets rendered the guards unconscious without anypony else noticing. "Come on, mares." The other four proceeded down the hallway, ready to congratulate their friends. "Rainbow Dash, I said not to hurt them. They were just doing their jobs."
"Yeah, and those jobs were to betray Queen Celestia and hurt anypony that stands up to Moon," Rainbow Dash fired back more harshly than she meant to. Fluttershy winced for a short instant and looked away. "…Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"
"It's okay," Fluttershy whispered. "You're upset: I understand that. I know they're the bad-ponies. It's just…"
"I know," Dash declared compassionately. "Don't worry, they went under instantly. They'll be back on their hooves in about an hour."
"Nice job," Twilight said as she walked past the unconscious guards. "Now, come on: Let's end this nightmare."
"Sounds lak a plan," Applejack declared in a happy yet flat voice. "Pinky, Ah…" Turning back, the orange Pony caught her childish pink friend drawing fake moustaches and fancy eyewear on the guards while covering her mouth to conceal giggles. Rarity chuckled for a moment before regaining her composure and leading Pinky into the library.
Suddenly, Fluttershy felt herself become out-of-place once more. The essence of sorrow and loneliness had grown stronger since they last came. Noticing this, Pinky stood close to her friend and smiled to comfort her. Knowing how her friends must be feeling, Twilight brought everypony in close and warmly initiated a group hug. "Everything's gonna be okay," she declared, keeping her voice down. "We go in as friends, fight as friends, and go home as friends. I love all of you."
"Love you too, Twilight," the others replied in near-perfect harmony.
"But we're not friends…" Rainbow Dash declared with her natural, bold tone. "We're a family."
"Try one-and-the-same," Applejack replied with a loving smile. "We ain't goin' nowhere without each other."
"Keep your Element close to your heart," Twilight instructed, having known the truth of her lesson for a wonderful lifetime. "Keep every other pony safe, and know they're doing the same for you."
"We've all got each other's backs," Fluttershy declared like a child's coo. "And nopony and nothing can ever change that."
"Not with magic, fright, or sway of any kind," Rarity continued.
"Sisters in arms: Sisters in duty: Sisters forever," Pinky concluded, wearing a powerful smile on her sweet face.
"The Elements of Harmony and the memory of Celestia guide us," Twilight declared, feeling closer to each of her loved ones. "Let's go." Following her lead, the Mane 6 opened the door and ascended the aged stairs without the aid of outside light.
With the balanced cosmos vanished from all sight, what remained was a dark and massive throne room. Upon seeing how large the room actually was, the mares began searching for Night Mare Moon, all of them remaining together. Everything had changed in Twilight's eyes. Spotting the ponies from down the hallway, Trixie instantly became nervous and uneasy. Looking around like a terrified child trying to avoid punishment, the blue-furred Unicorn carefully waved her hooves downward, focused on what she wanted, and soon disappeared from the castle in a thin veil of smoke. Appearing just beyond the castle grounds, Trixie threw off her purple sorcerer's hat and fearfully ran off into the night and away from the city.
The Mane 6 continued to search, though they appeared only to be walking in circles. "I was wondering when you would arrive," the voice of Night Mare Moon proudly declared. Turning towards the unseen source of the voice, the mares watched as the room shifted and distorted to reveal the corrupted Throne of Sunlight where the beast sat. Black and blue flames licked the air around the torches surrounding the dark Alicorn as a dark, celestial mist flowed like a veil of fog.
"How did…" Applejack exclaimed, unable to believe her senses had failed her.
"Darkness comes in many forms, my foals," Moon declared with a menacing joy in her heartless voice. "I knew the guards would not prevent you from coming to see me. Such a shame…The six of you could have served me well."
"Like hell!" Rainbow Dash lashed out, her wings clenching and preparing to flare out.
"Watch thy tongue, filly!" the dark Alicorn declared forcefully, standing up from her throne and stepping forward. "Remember that thou speak to the queen of all Equestria."
"You're not our queen!" Fluttershy barked, Moon having struck a raw nerve. "Celestia was our only queen, and she was your sister. But you took her anyway."
"Such love the young have for one who only misled them," the wicked queen scoffed, her disgust evident in her voice. "Why is it that the Pegasus have such a bold nature about them? 'Tis almost admirable that the weakest of winged vermin should have the strongest of audacities."
"Princess Luna," Twilight pleaded, stepping forward. Even in her anger, the young Unicorn still cared for the sad and angry filly she had come to know and love in their tragic past. "Please, stop this. Stop all of this. This isn't who you are. You don't want to rule like this: You said it yourself that you don't want to be feared."
"Luna is a lie, foal," Moon sharply replied, her serpent eyes glowing as white as the Moon itself. "Simply the figment of a lonely filly's imagination: Something for you to escape with in a world that has always hated you." Twilight slowly stepped back in shock and growing shame. "The six of you bring such disgrace upon Celestia's memory."
"Gals, if we're gonna do it, Ah think it has to be now," Applejack hurriedly declared, her armored hooves digging into the castle floor.
Suddenly, the entire room became engulfed in pure darkness, separating the mares by what felt like miles, though they were side-by-side. The shadows were so cold, and the isolation imposed on their minds was not unlike a flowing sea of pure ice. All of Equestria: All memories of joy and peace and love: All of Celestia's blessings: All light was gone, as if swallowed by darkness. Images formed and faded within the span of instances in the form of a Blood-Moon. Her breath heavy as it created a faint cloud of steam, Twilight shot her head in every direction, trying to find something to reach out to. Glancing down, the young Unicorn saw her hooves becoming enveloped by vine-like veins of shadow that spread and expanded up her legs. Crying out, Rainbow Dash felt the darkness drench her wings and render them paralyzed. Fluttershy closed her eyes as shadows slowly began to consume her. Rarity, now coated in the mass of darkness that served as second-skin, attempted to walk forward, only to succumb to its hold and give up. Pinky Pie found herself unable to speak as the black mass covered her mouth and slowly sought to render her body motionless. Applejack, void of all strength for the first time in her life, felt the clutching vines restrain her body and pull her down.
"Luna!" Twilight called out as the shadows prepared to reach her heart. "Stop this! This isn't the way!" Continuing to struggle, the mare found herself still alone. "Please! …There's so much good inside of you! Don't let the voice kill that!" Twilight tightly shut her eyes and gritted her teeth as the vines froze her body. This can't be real, she told herself. How could anypony do this? I can't let my friends suffer like this. Focusing all of her will and magic, the young Unicorn felt her horn shine as it coursed with energy and light. Spike and the mares remained clear and present in her mind as she forced herself onward.
Suddenly, bright and vibrant beams of purple light tore through the darkness and filled the entire room. "What?" Night Mare Moon called out in shock and rage. The light was blinding and without limitation as it continued to shine and grow. Soon, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinky Pie, and Rarity found themselves together once more. The veil of darkness and the vines were all gone without a trace.
"Twilight…you saved us all," Rarity declared, her coat free of the black paralysis that once held her. "You were amazing."
"Not even Celestia could do what you just did," Fluttershy excitedly praised her friend. Twilight's expression grew confused and uneasy. "You should be our new queen."
"What?" the purple Unicorn gasped as her friends circled around her. They were all enthralled and astounded, each of them wearing loving but fearful smiles. Then, one by one, they bowed before Twilight. "Everypony…stop it," she begged, feeling trapped. "Stop it! I don't deserve this. I didn't do anything…I don't deserve this!"
"Rainbow Dash…" Luna's voice called out to the freed Pegasus in the light-soaked room. Turning her head, Rainbow Dash saw the purple filly clad in her crown and royal armor. "I see now that I was wrong…You've shown me that I've been missing it all these years."
"Missing what?" Dash demanded, not willing to forgive what had been done. "Whatever it was, I hope it was worth killing your sister for." Luna lowered her head in shame. "She was everything…" the Pegasus whispered in sorrow before clenching her face into a scowl once more. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't leave you in the dust for good!"
"Because I'm finished here," the Moon Princess confessed, slowly walking forward. "My powers are all gone…I've got nothing left to fight for. You've beaten me…That's why I need you to take over. You're everything I could never be. Equestria needs you."
"What are you talking about?" Rainbow Dash sharply replied. "Don't come any closer to me."
"Take the Moon Essence, Rainbow Dash," Luna begged, her power and body fading and peeling away and leaving only celestial dark matter behind in her form. "Become." Suddenly, the shadows and darkness of Night Mare Moon began to flow into the Pegasus, despite her efforts to fight it off.
"Stop it!" Rainbow Dash screamed as the celestial energy overtook her body. After a moment, the Pegasus felt the power course through her, closed her eyes, and she surrendered to its sweet embrace with an infatuated sigh. Sharply opening her now-feline eyes that now shined as red as blood, Rainbow Dash spread her massive, powerful black and purple-laced wings, exposing her pitch-black coat, darkened rainbow mane, and blood-red Crescent Moon Cutie-Mark. Her entire body shrouded by beautiful darkness, the Pegasus felt a horn of shadows form atop her head as her fanged teeth shined in the black night she was destined to rule. "It's all so beautiful," Night Mare Rainbow joyously exclaimed. However, something inside felt wrong, and the newly-transformed Alicorn looked down at herself. "Twilight…"
"Fluttershy," Rarity called out to her friend as she shook with fear at the sight of the growing darkness. "Fluttershy, I give you my strength."
"And I'll stand by you, Rarity," the sunny Pegasus promised.
I'm so scared, I'm so scared, I'm so… Pinky cried out in her mind, only to remember her friends. Looking to her side, the pink Pony saw Twilight standing alone and afraid. Pinky swallowed her own fear and reached out to her friend.
Watching her powers consume those who stood before her, Night Mare Moon cackled wildly as she prepared a killing stance. Suddenly, she felt a powerful blow to the side of her head that knocked her helmet off. "That's enough!" Applejack declared, her armored hooves nearly trembling from the impact. "No more lies! No more mind games!"
"Insolent wretch!" the dark Alicorn screamed as her eyes lit up with white fire. "You dare lay your filthy, unworthy hoof upon the queen?!"
"Ah dare plenty!" the orange Pony bravely answered. "You couldn't hide the truth from me. An' by the way, you're not the queen." With that, Rainbow Dash, midway to creating a Sonic Rainboom, smashed into Moon with all her might, knocking the beast back and onto her knees.
"Right, that's quite enough of that," Rarity declared as she helped Fluttershy forward. Twilight and Pinky Pie stepped forward as well, forming a semi-circle around the corrupted princess.
"You can never get rid of our Elements of Harmony," Pinky boldly announced.
"It's over, Night Mare Moon," the purple Unicorn declared. "You don't have any power over us. All this time: All those years, you never saw the truth. It was your anger and isolation that made you weak. The more power you sought, the more it took from you."
"You've stepped on everypony," Rainbow Dash added.
"Used fear an' deception to crawl yer way to the top," Applejack continued, tilting her hat over her left eye.
"Betrayed and hurt those who loved you most," Fluttershy sorrowfully added, no longer feeling afraid.
"Taken everything that you should have given," Rarity replied.
"When you could've been making others laugh or feel loved, you decided it'd be cool to sneak around and take the coward's way out," Pinky added.
"You've done terrible things and caused damage to all those around you, Night Mare Moon," Twilight concluded. "But even from the start, you could never win. Before you killed her, Queen Celestia taught us all about friendship, and the Elements of Harmony…"
The Mane 6 found themselves becoming surrounded and transformed by beams of light shining with the colors of their bodies and Cutie-Marks. The light was warm and flowing like merciful winds from the very heart of the most-beloved Sun. Night Mare Moon hid her eyes from the perfect light, trying to escape the power she had never before witnessed. "Friendship is Magic," Twilight declared as her eyes shined with purple energy. "And Magic is the source of all true power. Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, Courage, Generosity…and Friendship." The lights grew stronger, and the Mane 6, serving as one unified entity, directed everything at Night Mare Moon. Throughout all of Equestria, the coldness of night began to fade as a warm and loving breeze kissed all the land. Ponies everywhere left their hiding places and homes to gaze at a wonderful and great waterfall of pure and colored light as it rose from a long-forgotten castle.
"No!" Night Mare Moon cried out, sounding helpless for the first time. "This can't be! There is no power but my own!" As the dark Alicorn's body became consumed by the endless stream of light, she began to cry out in fear. "The night will carry on! All of the hate and fear I knew in my life shall become yours! Then they shall all forget you as you had all forgotten me!"
"Nopony forgot you, Moon," Applejack declared. "You took yourself away from them."
The light finally reached its climax, illuminating the night's sky as if it were the heart of day. As the Bat-Ponies hid themselves away from the brightness, the Ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasus of Equestria rejoiced loudly. Once the light faded, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinky Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy found themselves lying on the grass outside the ruins of the long-forgotten castle. Under the true light of the Moon, the Mane 6 rose onto their hooves and stared up at the stars shining bright above their world once more.
"Twilight! Twilight!" Spike cried out as his stubby little legs carried him down the hillside and into the loving embrace of his best friend. "I'm sorry. I know I said I'd stay there…but-but I saw this light, and I knew that…"
"I love you, Spike," Twilight warmly replied, kissing her closest friend on his scaly forehead. "Thank you."
"Is it over?" Pinky asked, her eyes still rolling around dizzily. "Did we win?"
Gathering around a purple form hidden by its wings among the tall blades of green grass, Spike and the ponies saw Princess Luna cowering, sobbing, and covering her face with her hooves. Night Mare Moon was nowhere to be seen, nor was her dark power. Luna lay alone, full of fear and regret. The group could all see her sorrow was true.
"Yeah, Pinky," Rainbow Dash answered without her cocky attitude. "I think we won."
"Princess Luna," Twilight gently spoke up, motioning for Spike to stay back as she walked over to the sobbing princess. "Princess Luna…it's over. Night Mare Moon is dead."
Not daring to show her face, Luna began taking in gasping breaths. "I'm so sorry," she cried. "I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen."
A flash of vibrant and beautiful light soared across the sky as the cosmos faded and the Moon set. Appearing from nowhere, the Sun shined down over all of Equestria to usher in a new day. From its holy rays, a majestic figure descended to the ground, its powerful white wings ever-graceful and inspiring. Awestruck, everypony stared at what seemed like a wonderful dream come true. "Queen…My Queen?" Twilight gasped as she made her way into a galloping sprint towards the radiant Alicorn now standing before her. "Queen Celestia!" Leaping forward, the Unicorn hugged her beloved mother-figure. "It's you! It's really you!"
"Hello, Twilight," the Princess of Day warmly replied, welcoming her favorite student with her outstretched wings.
"But…but how?" Rainbow Dash asked, slowly stepping forward. "We…we saw you…"
"Death is not a cage, my beloveds," Queen Celestia answered lovingly. The others approached their queen and held her tightly.
"We've missed you so much, Queen Celestia," Fluttershy nearly sobbed. "We love you."
"And I love all of you," the Alicorn queen warmly replied. "Forgive me for leaving your side, but this was something both you and Luna had to go through alone. And I could not be more thankful or proud of all of you." Twilight smiled warmly as all eyes glanced at her for a moment.
Humbled and amazed, Princess Luna rose to her weak and trembling feet and slowly stumbled forward. "…Sister?" she asked as hot tears streamed down her face. "Tia?"
"I am here, Luna," the queen warmly replied, stepping forward.
"My sister!" Luna cried, falling to her knees before she could hug her beloved sister. Catching her in her angelic wings, Celestia steadied her baby sister and hugged her tightly without anger or hesitation. "Celestia…I never wanted to harm you or anypony…Please forgive me…I beg you all. I will find a way to make it all right. Please, my sister…Forgive me great wrongs, and I will gladly return to my exile on the Moon. I shall never come back again, I swear."
"No, Luna," Celestia forcefully answered. "No more banishments. No more silence or isolation. No more pain or sorrow for either of us." Luna slowly looked up at her sister with teary eyes. "Night Mare Moon was born of your sorrow, your pain, and my neglect. I see my sister here before me…Not the monster she would have me believe her to be." Queen Celestia carefully wiped away her sister's tears with her wing. "Luna," she whispered with a voice filled with nothing but love and sympathy. "None of this is your fault. You are my sister, whom I have seen suffer alone and afraid for far too long. We have all forgiven you, but now you must do the same."
Stepping forward, her anger melted away, Rainbow Dash bowed to her rulers. "Princess Luna," she said with reverence. "All those horrible things I said…All the anger I had for you…It-It's gone. It'll take some time to get over…But you're not Night Mare Moon."
"It's easy to see that this is the real you, Princess," Applejack warmly added.
"With your bad side gone, I think what you need is to be shown a little kindness," Fluttershy offered with a warm smile. "We can all lose our way now and then, especially when we're scared, sad, or alone."
"Nopony's gonna send you away, Princess Luna," Pinky Pie declared, placing her hand on Luna's shoulder.
"We are all here for you, Princess," Rarity added with a warm smile. Spike leapt to his crush's side and agreed wholeheartedly.
"And we always will be," Twilight concluded with love and forgiveness in her voice. "Nothing's changed." Deeply touched, Princess Luna let one last tear fall before embracing Twilight Sparkle as a true friend. Unable to resist, the others joyfully joined in. "Welcome back, my princess."
"Princess Luna, can I touch your mane?" Pinky asked with childlike curiosity and joy.
At last, harmony had been restored throughout Equestria. The air was filled with the calls of birds, the warmth of day, the perfume of flowers, and the solace of peace and hope. Standing in an open field and basking in the light of the Sun once more, the Cutie-Mark Crusaders smiled with open mouths and wide eyes.
"My sister, I must confess something to you," Princess Luna declared. "The night that Night Mare Moon took over, I was about to take my own life. I thought it best for those around me."
"Even now, you believe yourself unnecessary, sister?" Princess Celestia replied with an understanding tone. "I hope that you will soon learn that my love for us is endless, and that you have always been needed. Knowing everything that has happened, I thank the All-Maker you were not able to go through with it."
"And I thank the All-Maker for such wonderful friends…And the most wonderful sister a pony could ever hope for," the Princess of Night declared, resting her head against her big sister's side.
"I love you, Luna," Celestia declared. "I hope you never forget that. All of Equestria loves you as well. They need only time to see the real you. Hopefully, I can be the sister you needed in our childhood."
"You already are," Luna answered. "I love you, Tia…Just as my Moon loves your Sun."
Closing an ancient book in her library, Twilight Sparkle gazed out at the Moon with cold, serpent-like eyes.