Prince of Twilight Chapter 3

Prince of Twilight
Chapter 3: Return to Dawn

"Come on Spike! Before she decides to dye my coat a new color!" cried a small purple pony as she dashed from a clothes shop. A moment later, a small green and purple baby dragon ran out after her.

"But Twilight! I wanted to stay a little longer!" whined Spike. Twilight Sparkle shook her head.

"We have to get back to the library first Spike! I need to finish my research on the Elements of Harmony before the Summer Sun Celebration!" Twilight wandered through the streets of Ponyville, ignoring the hustle and bustle of everypony's preparations for the festivities. After a few minutes of walking, she made it to a large hollowed out tree that was the Ponyville Library. She rushed inside and slammed the door shut behind her, bathing herself and Spike in darkness. A moment later, the lights snapped on and a hundred or so ponies shouted "Surprise!" Twilight Sparkle stumbled backwards as Pinkie Pie appeared before her.

"Surprise! Hi. I'm Pinkie Pie and I threw this party just for you. Were you surprised, were you, were you? Huh huh huh?" Twilight Sparkle sighed in exasperation.

"Very surprised. Libraries are supposed to be quiet," she moaned.

"That's silly. What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet? I mean, duh, boring. You see, I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were all, hello, and I was all, gasp, remember? You see I never saw you before, and if I never saw you before that means you're new, 'cause I know every pony, and I mean every pony in Ponyville, and if you're new, then it meant you haven't met anyone yet, and if you haven't met anyone yet, you must not have any friends, and if you don't have any friends then you must be lonely, and that made me so sad, and I had an idea, and that's why I went gasp, I'll just throw a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville. See? And now you have lots and lots of friends." Twilight took a big gulp of something, trying to ignore Pinkie. However, she swallowed a mouthful of hot sauce and ran upstairs, bellowing something about water. When she finally cooled off, she lay in her bed and sobbed.

"I don't have time to make friends!" she moaned.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Somewhere deep in the Everfree Forest


Comet Fire paced back and forth over and over. Finally, with agonizing slowness, the sun set over the horizon. Comet Fire melted into the ground and Fallen Moon rose from the shadows.

"Well, tonight's the night," he said to himself. He walked back into the palace and sat on the remains of the throne, settling into his favorite spot near the corner. Fifteen minutes passed as the moon slowly made its way over the horizon, then the palace chamber began to shudder. Dust fell from the ceiling as a stream of stardust floated into the room. It slowly materialized into a small Alicorn with a flowing mane the color of a starless night: Princess Luna, her rage filled half gone. She was facing away from the throne, her head hung low.

"Um… sister?" she began nervously. "I'd just like to start by saying I'm so-"

"You may want to hold that apology, dear," Fallen Moon interrupted. Luna spun on the spot, shocked and slightly confused.

"Who are you?" she asked, a glint of her old anger flaring up. Moon just chuckled and stood up, walking over to the Princess.

"You know, I would blame your short attention span as I did last time, but I suppose it's to be expected that you wouldn't remember me either." Luna looked thoughtful, then suddenly smiled and tackled the purple Unicorn.

"Brother!" she said happily before blushing profusely and jumping back. She tried to straighten herself as though it could make him forget her "unprincesslike" behavior moments before. "But why do you look like this?" she asked as properly as she could.

Fallen Moon laughed. "Oh little sister, it is good to see you again. Alas, this body is part of the punishment They saw fit to bestow upon me. The other half was a banishing of my existence from the memories of everypony on the planet. It has only just occurred to me that you are an exception to that judgment since you were… located elsewhere at the time."

Luna smiled. "That's all well and good brother, but where is Ti- I mean Princess Celestia?" Fallen Moon shook his head.

"Not here, sister. This palace was abandoned shortly after we two were done away with. The royal court now resides across the countryside, in Canterlot." Luna's eyes grew wide.

"But I had hoped that I might make my apology to Tia privately!" she cried. "I can't handle crowds well, I always get so frustrated and… and… oh I knew this wasn't going to be easy!"

"As much as I wish it were easy Little One, They never let the banished simply slide back into their old roles. There must be some trial, and this must be it," Moon said with a shrug. Luna sat, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

"Then I can't do it," she moaned. "I will stay here, and spend eternity wishing that I could face my sister." Fallen Moon walked over and hugged her until she stopped crying. Then suddenly, a mischievous grin spread across his face.

"Sister, whatever happened to that other form of yours?" Moon asked mysteriously. Luna shrugged.

"Night Mare Moon?" she said. "The form is still there, but it tends to make me quicker to anger if I stay in it too long. It took me nearly four centuries to calm down while I was imprisoned in the moon." Fallen Moon walked over to the reflecting pool.

"Brakvir ovka Celstakna," he muttered, and an image of Celestia appeared in the pool.

"Wafe." The picture zoomed far out, revealing a well lit Ponyville, ponies hustling and bustling in preparation for Summer Sun Festival. Moon saw royal guards surrounding what appeared to be a library. Satisfied, he turned from the pool and the image melted away.

Smiling he said, "Sister, prepare yourself. I have a plan."


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back in Ponyville

Twilight Sparkle groaned, turning over in her bed. Across the dark room, the door opened and Spike walked in covered in streamers and wearing a lamp shade.

"Hey Twilight! Pinkie Pie started "pin the tail on the pony"! Wanna play?" Spike asked, sounding a little winded.

"No! All the ponies in this town are crazy!" Twilight cried angrily. "Do you know what time it is?!" Spike imperceptibly rolled his eyes.

"It's the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. Everypony has to stay up, or they'll miss the Princess raise the sun! You really should lighten up, Twilight. It's a party!"

"You really should lighten up, Twilight. It's a party!" she mocked, sticking her tongue out at Spike's back as he closed the door and returned to the party. "Ugh, here I thought I'd have time to learn about the Elements of Harmony but, silly me, all this ridiculous friend-making has kept me from it! "Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about everlasting night." I hope the Princess was right... I hope it really is just an old ponytale..."

A half hour later, Spike burst back in, covered in still more streamers and a damaged looking lamp shade. "C'mon, Twilight, it's time to watch the sunrise!" Spike ran back downstairs and Twilight followed groggily. In the main room of the library, Pinkie Pie waited to greet the descending dragon and unicorn pony.

"Isn't this exciting?" she asked, still as energetic as when the party started. "Are you excited, 'cause I'm excited, I've never been so excited- well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town and I went *gasp* but I mean really, who can top that?" Just as Pinkie took a huge breath to continue, a dozen trumpets went off and the balcony at the head of the library was illuminated. The Mayor of Ponyville stepped out from behind a curtain and began to speak.
"Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!" The room reverberated with the cheer sent up by the multitude of ponies. "In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony that gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria..." Flutttershy hovered over to Twilight and Pinkie.

"Ready?" She asked excitedly.

" ...Princess Celestia!" The curtains drew back dramatically, but there was no one behind it. The gathered ponies murmured nervously.

" This can't be good," said Twilight Sparkle. Mayor Mare stepped forward.

"Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!" she cried over the growing confusion. Pinkie Pie bounced on the spot, oblivious to the danger.

"Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games! Is she hiding?" Rarity looked from side to side, searching the room for the missing Princess.

"She's gone!" she cried. At that moment, a crack of lightning flashed through the room and all the candles went out. A menacing dark mist flowed in from behind the curtain, forming into Night Mare Moon, rage and royalty pulsing from the Alicorn. Twilight Sparkle took a step back.

"Oh no... Night Mare Moon!" she whimpered.

"Oh, my beloved subjects," Night Mare Moon began. "It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little sun-loving faces." From behind Night Mare's eyes, a small blue spark watched the scene unfold.

'Oh brother, I hope this goes well,' Luna thought from her corner of the evil Alicorn's mind. A rainbow blur zipped to the front of the room, drawing Luna's attention back to the unfolding chaos.

"What did you do with our Princess?!" Rainbow Dash cried. Night Mare chuckled.

"Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?" Pinkie Pie, still oblivious, began throwing joke names out before Twilight stuffed her hooves in her mouth, silencing her.

"Does my crown no longer count now that I've been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?" Night Mare Moon stomped her hoof in anger. How dare these ponies forget about her?! Twilight stepped forward, gathering her strength to speak.

"I saw the signs," she said. "And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon – Night Mare Moon!" Luna smiled despite herself. She giggled in the silence of her thoughts, glad that at least one pony remembered.


"Well well well," Night Mare said mockingly. "Somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here." The small purple unicorn tried to stutter out a rebuttal, but her strength failed her and she lowered her head. Night Mare chuckled again. "Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!" With a clap of thunder and flash of lightning, Night Mare Moon became Mist again and flew, cackling in to the night. A moment later, Twilight shot out of the library, chasing the fleeing mist.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
In the old palace in the Everfree Forest

Fallen Moon let the image of the library fade, smiling to himself. The plan was falling into place perfectly. Once Celestia broke free of her prison, she would follow the trail of magic left by Luna to the old palace, and the Moon Princess could confess in secret that she had changed. Moon chuckled to himself. The plan was foolproof! Celestia had grown softer with age, and the unicorn was positive that she would listen to Luna when she dropped the guise of Night Mare Moon.

"Speak of the devil," Fallen Moon said as a midnight purple mist signaled the entrance of the Moon Princess. Night Mare Moon galloped across the grand hall, worry in her eyes.

"Brother!" she cried. "There's a problem." Moon rolled his eyes.

"So much for foolproof," he muttered. "What's the matter, sister?"

"Well, everything was going fine," she started. "I trapped sister in a low level power vortex and scared all the ponies at the celebration, but as I began to leave the trail of magic, I noticed a group of six ponies had begun to follow me back! They're on their way here as we speak!"

"Oh no," Fallen Moon said. "No this won't do at all. Did you try to delay them?" Night Mare nodded.

"I set a particularly grumpy manticore in their path and tried to trick one of the pegasi into leaving the group so they couldn't cross the chasm, but nothing seemed to stop them." Fallen Moon began to speak up when there came a high-pitched whine. He turned to see the Elements shine brightly before returning to stone. He whipped back around, another mischievous grin on his face.

"This may work in our favor, sister," he said quickly. "Those ponies are almost here, so listen carefully…"


----------------------------------------------------------
Five minutes later



Twilight led the group into the main chamber. She spotted the elements and dashed towards them, skidding to a stop before the pedestal.

"When the five elements are gathered, a spark will show the sixth," she said to herself and began to concentrate. A cackle rang through the room, echoing off the walls as Night Mare Moon materialized.

"Silly foal," she said. "One such as you could never wield the elements. You are too weak!" The Princess stomped her foot and the elements jumped into the air. From the shadows behind the throne, Fallen Moon whispered a quick spell.

"Vemyx Elketa Metsvitka," he said. The elements struck the ground and cracked open, leaving the ponies aghast and suddenly fearful. All but Twilight Sparkle, who looked back at her friends and smiled, then glared at Night Mare Moon, a new confidence glinting in her eyes.

"Maybe alone, I am weak. I could never hope to wield something as powerful as the elements," she said humbly. "But I'm not alone! I have friends!" She blinked and her eyes glowed pure white. She and the other ponies rose into the air, the elements forming into necklaces as they absorbed their energy.  A crown formed on Twilight's head and a rainbow beam fired across the room. In his mind's eye, Fallen Moon saw Discord's face as he slowly turned to stone.

"This time, I can do something about it," he muttered. "Zhrapa Fadrigol." In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the blast. Raising his hooves, he caught the rainbow beam in midair. It smashed into him, spewing light and color around the throne. He looked back at Night Mare Moon.

"Now, Luna!" he cried. She nodded and shifted back into her less menacing form, becoming the young Alicorn he remembered. As the rainbow blast began to dissipate, he vanished behind the throne again with another whispered spell. Luna pretended to be flung backwards into the throne so she could whisper to Fallen Moon. A rainbow mist flowed in through the side window as Celestia finally arrived on the scene. She looked to Luna, then turned to the group of six ponies to congratulate them.

"What now brother?" Luna asked quietly. Fallen Moon smiled.

"Now?" he said. "Now you will rejoin your sister, as you were meant to." Luna giggled happily, then became somber again.

"But what of you? Where will you go?" Moon sighed.

"Go? I won't go anywhere. My banishment doesn't end until tomorrow, and even then, I am not even a fading memory in anyone's mind. I shall go where I must and keep the balance, as I always have. But unfortunately, I don't think you will ever find me in Canterlot. This is the last time we will speak, little sister. But do not worry for me. You are free now, go and live as the princess you deserved to be treated as, all those years ago." Luna was going to ask another question, but Celestia had gotten to the throne and was looking at the Moon Princess, tears in her eyes. A weepy reunion followed as the six ponies and Fallen Moon watched. After a short while, the sisters made their way out of the palace, the six newly appointed Element Wielders following soon after. Satisfied that it was safe to leave his hiding spot, Fallen Moon walked out to the courtyard and watched as Luna and Celestia talked, laughed and sighed together on the way back to Ponyville. The small purple unicorn at the head of the group of ponies occasionally interrupted, but mostly hung back with her friends, chuckling at the sisters who were supposed demi-gods. Fallen Moon let out a laugh as the sun rose over the mountains and he shifted back in to Comet Fire. The sound carried down to the group and Twilight Sparkle looked up. Seeing him mid-transformation, she stopped in her tracks and gasped, then began to run back up the slope. Her friends turned to see her charging back towards the palace.

"What's wrong Twilight?" called Apple Jack. "Did ya see somethin?" The Princesses turned simultaneously and started up the slope after her.

"There's another pony up there!" she called back. "He was covered in dark goop! He just went back into the castle!" Without another word, the group ran back to the castle.

Comet Fire dashed back inside, eyes wild.

"No no no, this is bad!" he cried. "They can't see me! Who knows what kind of conclusion they'll draw when they realize I was here?" He whirled around as the group burst into the throne room. Celestia galloped to the front.

"Stop right there!" she ordered. Comet shook his head, then launched himself into the air and broke through a window, escaping into the morning's glow. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy leapt off the ground as well.

"Don't worry Princess!" Rainbow said. "We'll catch that guy, no problem!" She and Fluttershy took off through the broken window pane after Comet Fire.

Comet soared ahead, but Rainbow and Fluttershy were closing the gap quickly. Comet Fire poured on the speed, the land beneath him blurring. The light yellow pegasi fell into the distance, but Rainbow Dash continued to close the gap. No matter how fast he went, she seemed to be right there behind him. Looking ahead, Comet Fire saw the shimmering barrier of magic that represented the edge of the Everfree Forest. Cursing, he realized he would need Fallen Moon's help for this.

"Ready?" he asked. He felt Fallen Moon nod and energy flow into him.

"Metsta!" he called, flipping forward as a magical circle appeared in the air. Firmly planting his hooves, he pushed off and was thrown violently back towards the castle. Rainbow Dash gasped in surprise and skidded to a halt in mid air.

"Since when can pegasi do magic?" she called before tearing off after him. Once again, it took her less than a minute to almost completely close the gap.

"Who are you!?" she cried. Comet Fire didn't respond and summoned more energy.

"This is going to sting a bit," he said. "Cojulta Blacskar!" Comet was suddenly engulfed in flames. He exploded forward in an arc, Rainbow Dash shrinking quickly into the distance. His arc carried him back towards the broken window, but his aim was off, and instead he blasted through the ceiling in a fiery ball. He hit the ground hard enough to collapse a section of the floor and the fire exploded up and out the newly formed hole in the roof. The group of ponies cowered behind Celestia as Comet fire stood up and walked out of the hole in something less than a straight line.

"Tell me who you are!" Celestia shouted. Comet Fire shook his head again, slightly cross-eyed.

"It… wouldn't matter," he said. "You won't remember me anyway." Luna stepped forward meekly and began to speak but Comet Fire glared at her and shook his head imperceptibly. She sighed and backed up. Twilight noticed, but Celestia was too concentrated on the strange pegasus to see anything else. Just then, Rainbow Dash flew back in, carrying a tired Fluttershy on her back.

"Be careful guys!" she called from the air. "He can use magic!" Celestia frowned and the other ponies gasped.

"A pegasus who can use magic?" Celestia said shaking her head. "What trickery is this? No matter! Gather together girls! Use the Elements on him!" The young ponies nodded and gathered in the center of the room and charged another rainbow blast. Twilight Sparkle pointed her horn at Comet Fire and launched the attack. Comet Fire raised a hoof and smacked it away. The blast blew out the wall on the other side of the castle.

"You can't destroy me with my own magic, Little Ones!" he called. "But I'm not here to fight. I bid you farewell! Pona Trecka!" A wall of morning mist exploded out from the ground, obscuring the entire throne room. When it dissipated, Comet Fire was gone.

Celestia was enraged and confused. "He knows the Old Tongue as well? Who was that pony?"

"Sister, please," Luna said. "Can we just go home?" Celestia faced her sister and the Wielders. After a moment, she nodded and they walked home in silence, disturbed and frightened.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Edge of the Everfree Forest

Comet Fire wobbled slowly into a cave. Once over the threshold, he collapsed in exhaustion. He hadn't used that much energy since that night one thousand years ago. As he faded from consciousness, his thoughts turned to Luna.

"At least… she's happy," he muttered, before he succumbed to the darkness crowding his mind.