Perils of the Past, Ch 6: Tinder

By Somber

(My thanks for every pony who's read this far. There's a lot here, and I couldn't find a natural split. )

Princess Luna stood awkwardly in the door way of the library. It was the first time since Nightmare Moon's power had been broken that Twilight Sparkle had gotten a good look at the grayish purple Pegasus Unicorn princess. Her teal eyes looked past the mane falling across her eyes with a soft, haunted look. She wore a decorate harness inscribed with a crescent and glittering with countless stars. She shuffled back and forth on her delicate hooves as she avoided looking Twilight Sparkle in the eye. "I need your help to save Nightmare Fury. Please help me save my friend."

"Princess, I'm flattered you ask, but I wouldn't know the first place to start."

"Do to her what you did to me. Use your elements of harmony and make her right again." Luna asked softly, her soft teal eyes looking over the purple Unicorn. Luna lowered her horn to the chains holding Twilight prisoner and with a flash the chains disappeared.

"Princess. I… I can't. My friends and I have been in Ponyville for months now and we've never been able to summon the magic. I've tried spells and working together, but it just doesn't happen. I'm sorry." Twilight Sparkle said softly, tail and ears drooping.

"You might be surprised, Twilight Sparkle." Honesty said as the albino pony cracked open a book and carefully blew away the dust. "You may still be able to harness the power of the elements, but only with an understanding of who and what you face." She gave Twilight and Luna a gentle smile, coughing momentarily. "And fortunately, this plays to your strength, Miss Sparkle. Tell me, where did ponies come from?"

"Ponies? You mean the very first ponies?" Twilight Sparkled blinked. "There are so many stories. There's the Pegasus myth that ponies came from storm clouds. Oh, or the Unicorn story about ponies coming here from some magical world. Or that pony scientist in Manehattan who said Earth ponies evolved from shaggy cave ponies, and Unicorns and Pegasus are off shoots."

"All interesting stories. But tell me, have you heard the story of the World Tree?" Honesty said softly as she opened the book to a drawing of a massive tree looming over three smaller ones.

"The World Tree?" Twilight Sparkle said in fascination. "No, I haven't."

"It's the oldest myth for our origins. It was old even when the Princesses were born." Honesty said as she coughed and turned the pages. "Long long ago, the world was dry and lifeless, but the world wished to be full of life and wonder. From the Earth sprouted the World Tree. From it came our rain and water. Our grass and trees. All manner of beasts and creatures. And in time it shed three seeds that grew into the Tree of Power, the Tree of Wisdom, and the Tree of Love."

"Fascinating," Twilight Sparkle said as she looked at the image of the three trees. "But what does that have to do with Nightmare Fury?"

"You will see," Honesty said softly, earning soft scoff from Lady Dignity. Honesty's milky eyes turned towards the three Cutie Mark Crusaders and asked softly, "But tell me, girls, from their names, which tree do you think sounds best?"

"Uh, power!" Scootaloo said with a sudden grin. "With power you can do anything!"

"Wisdom," Sweetie Belle said simply, looking at Scootaloo with a smirk, "Power's useless if you don't know what to do with it."

"Nuh-uh."

"Yeah-huh!"

Applebloom opened her mouth once, glancing in the direction of apple Acres. "Love," she said softly. Her friends looked at her and put their hooves around Apple Bloom's shoulders.

"There? See? Even today ponies know which of the three trees they came from. The Pegasus were born from the Tree of Power, giving them strength, grace, endurance, and flight. The Unicorns came from the Tree of Wisdom, possessing the knowledge and ability to do real magic and to create wonders. The Earth ponies were born of Love, and it is from that love that the deep affinity for land and nature was born. And for a time the world knew joy and harmony. The World Tree thrived and magic spread through the world."

"Bet something bad happens," Scootaloo said, and then the orange Pegasus caught Twilight's scowl, "What? That's how these stories always go."

"Indeed, something bad did happen. We may never know the source, but a great evil was born in the shade of the world tree. An evil so powerful that the World Tree was broken and destroyed. Discord was created, and its elements were rage, hatred, treachery, callousness, and lies." Honesty voice dropped, and for a moment the lights in the library dimmed and the air grew oddly colder. Pony kind was scattered far and wide, and terrible new monsters rampaged."

"Elements of Discord," Twilight Sparkle muttered to herself. "Counterparts to the Elements of Harmony?"

Honesty nodded once. "Yes, though some may say the Elements of Harmony are counterparts to the Elements of Discord. With the breaking of the World Tree the world went wild. The sun rose at different times of the day, the moon emerging when it wished or blocking out the sun. The constellations crawled across the sky. Storms roared where and how they wished and forests grew dark and tangled. Whether due to the elements, or simply being driven out into the wild world, pony turned against pony."

"What? No way! Ponies fighting each other?" Spike gasped.

"Oh yes," said Dignity primly, drawing all eyes. "The Unicorn bastions of Corona, Truespire, and Purity were beset for centuries by Pegasus raiders and Earth pony thieves and scavengers. Our mastery of magic kept us safe for the most part, but there are many histories about our ancient homes being riven by terrific hurricanes or starved with drought." She stamped her hoof sharply. "For ages on end, the Unicorn Queens fought to keep the Pegasus at bay and the Earth Ponies bound."

"Bound? You mean as slaves? You kept Earth ponies as slaves?" Apple Bloom gasped.

"Of course. You don't expect that they would waste their magic growing food, did you?" Dignity replied coolly. "Sadly the old kingdoms fell one by one from within and without."

Only Dignity seemed to think that was a terrible thing. Harmony coughed softly, "There are countless stories of Unicorn atrocity against the Pegasus; and stories of Pegasus against Earth ponies. It was a brutal time, and at the worst of it the Pegasus King and Unicorn Queen pledged war upon each other."

Harmony then smiled softly, "But then, something unexpected happened. The son of the Pegasus King, Prince Valor, stumbled across the daughter of the Unicorn Queen, Princess Virtue. And contrary to… well… everything… they fell in love."

Dignity harrumphed softly. Luna looked incredibly sad. Scootaloo rolled her eyes with an impatient snort.

"They fell in love?" Twilight Sparkle asked, just a touch skeptical. "Just like that?"

Honesty looked at her with a curious smile. "You don't believe in love, Miss Sparkle?"

"Well, it does seem a bit… um… convenient." Twilight Sparkle said with a blush as she tapped her hooves together.

"Never underestimate love. It builds up what is destroyed. It tears down that which could otherwise not be broken. It violates sense and logic and all reason; a force of nature every bit as powerful as magic and storm." Harmony said softly, staring at Twilight through her thick glasses. "It may also be that years of constant struggle had blunted the old hatreds. Regardless, they did the unthinkable in their love, they defied their parents and called for an end to the fighting. Together they established a city for all ponies. Canterlot."

Twilight Sparkle looked out the window towards the city perched on the side of the mountain, but then frowned. "Canterlot… that was the city the girls found in the Everfree Forest, wasn't it?"

"Clever girl. And it was where you found the Elements of Harmony when you faced Nightmare Moon." Twilight glanced at Luna, but the purple gray filly appeared lost in thought as Honesty continued, "Prince Valor and Princess Virtue made their home, and saw their followers swell in number. First by the dozens, then by the hundreds, ponies of all sorts came. But all that was nothing compared to the miracle that happened next. From their love and union was born a pony with the magic of a Unicorn, the wings of a Pegasus, and the great love of the Earth ponies. Princess Celestia. And some years later…" Honesty's pale eyes turned towards Luna, how shuffled nervously.

"No way!" gasped the girls.

Spike crossed his arms, "I saw that one coming."

"Princess?" Twilight Sparkle said softly as she stepped closer to Luna, marveling. She'd always known that the Princesses were special, but she'd never realized until now what they represented. Unity. Love. Harmony.

"They were… very kind." Luna murmured softly, closing her eyes as she turned away.

"What happened to Canterlot then?"

Harmony sighed. Dignity suddenly tapped her hoof firmly and pointed her horn at the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "That's quite enough for the moment," she said sharply as she looked at the three young ponies. "Come with me girls."

"Huh? What's going on?" Apple Bloom said as they rose to their feet.

Dignity looked down at the three, stifling their questions with a strict glare before looking over at Twilight Sparkle. "I understand this library has been furnished as a residence. We will avail ourselves of your kitchen." And with no further comment let the girls from the room.

Once they'd left, Honesty said matter of factly, "The Pegasus King and Unicorn Queen were not pleased by what their wayward children had done. Their numbers and followers dwindling daily, they rallied their most rabid and loyal followers and attacked Canterlot together. And in the fighting, Prince Valor and Princess Virtue were slain." Twlight saw Luna flinch at the word.

"They killed their own children?" Twilight Whispered in horror. Honesty wiped away a tear as Luna stood as still as stone.

Harmony nodded once, "Yes. They did. But the end of that terrible battle broke both their reigns. No pony would follow a leader so cruel ever again. The princesses were elevated to the rulers of Canterlot, though not uncontested."

Harmony smiled at Luna's back. "For a time, it was wonderful. Despite countless bickering aristoponies, no pony truly wanted to go back to the dark times. The Princesses possessed new and wondrous abilities. For the first time, the sun rose and set at the same time every day. The moon filled the sky only in its absence. The stars ended their wandering and new delights filled the heavens. But more than that were the wonders the ponies did for themselves. Pegasus ponies drove away the worst of the weather, and brought rain when needed. Earth ponies grew food enough for all without whip or enchantment. Unicorns used their magic to create things needed by all. It's a miracle that persists to this day."

"And then…?" Twilight Sparkle asked softly. Harmony just looked at the young princess, as did Dignity and then all the rest.

Luna slowly walked to a patch of sunlight that poured through around window, her teal eyes gazing at the sun as her light blue mane shifted about her shoulders in that invisible gaze. "It was such a silly argument…" she said softly, her horn glowing in the light.

Applejack was definitely not feeling up for a run to Ponyville, but with Fury shimmering at the head of the shallow valley behind her the orange workhorse managed a brisk trot. She passed between the iron light posts flanking both ends of the stone span and skidded to a halt. Filling Ponyville in row and squares were the brilliantly armored Equestrian Guard. More than Applejack had ever seen, even at the grand Galloping Gala. Pegasus and Unicorns and Earth Ponies all arranged in their gleaming rectangular formations. "Shoot, I reckon they brought gosh darned guard in Equestria," she said softly as she cleared the bridge. Slowly the guard began to cross, forming up along the river.

"Pssst!" Applejack looked around. "Psssssst!" Applejack frowned as she looked at the doors and windows. Suddenly it sounded again right in her ear, "PSssssssssssst!" Applejack glanced up at a lone cloud a foot overhead just barely large enough to conceal a Rainbow Dashed sized pony.

"That's got to be the worst disguise I've ever seen, Dash," Applejack said flatly.

Rainbow Dash stuck her head out, drew her hoof across her lips, and then the cloud raced around the corner behind Sugarcube Corner. Applejack signed and followed, but started when she saw all her friends together. The sight of Fluttershy up and about, despite the bandages covering her, brought a relieved smile. "What are ya'll doin? I got to talk to Twilight lickity split."

"She's been arrested," Rarity said solemnly.

"What? What in land sakes for?"

"Dunno, but the Equestrian Guard have taken over Ponyville and evacuated everyone." Rainbow Dash said sourly. "We snuck back in, hoping to find a way to bust out Twilight Sparkle. She's being held in the library."

"This is ridiculous!" Applejack said as she stomped her hoof, then winced at the stab of pain in her side. "I spoke with this Fury critter. She said if Twilight or the Princess doesn't face her at noon she's going to blow right through the town and be on her sweet way to Canterlot."

Rarity peeked around the corner, "I think the Equestrian Guard might have a thing or two to say about that!"

"Rarity, you ain't met Nightmare Fury. The only thing she'll say to em is 'Boom' and 'Fwoosh'." Applejack said sourly.

"You survived. I'm sure the Equestrian Guard will handle themselves. All six divisions are here. That's over six hundred ponies." She looked at them in their shining armor and sighed, fluttering her eyes.

"Regardless, we gotta spring Twilight!" Rainbow Dash said. "It's totally bogus she's being locked up! She's tried to do everything she could to help Ponyville since this whole thing started."

"You're right," Applejack said as she slowly smiled. "Here's what we're gonna do…"

"It's not fair," Luna shouted at her sister, pointing at the sun through the window. "Why do you have to make the day longer just because it's summer, Celestia?" The great hall of Canterlot, with its huge round table, was strewn with books, scrolls and papers of all kinds. There was a never ending stream of ponies waiting to meet with the princess. "We're both Princesses. It should be half and half!"

Celestia didn't look up from her scrolls as she magically animated three pens to scribble out three different notes. "We're not discussing this now, Luna. The Earth Ponies need more sunlight now to get enough crops grown for winter. You can have longer nights then."

"Sure, when it's cold! Nopony wants to be outside when there's snow on the ground. And with nights this short, every pony is going to be asleep!"

Celestia's lips set even more firmly as she scowled at the papers. "I have bigger concerns than your bruised ego. I have Unicorns filing complaints against Pegasus, Earth ponies accusing Unicorns of not paying for goods, and Pegasus threatening to rain on the Unicorn residences… and only them." Her purple eyes looked hard at her sister. "I'm sorry you don't like it, Luna, but I am up to my horn here."

"Mother would have listened…" Luna muttered softly.

Celestia rose and slammed both her hooves on the table, sending inkwells rolling across her scrolls. "Mother and father are not here anymore. I am. And if this country is going to be more than just a dream then it will have to be lead!" Their eyes met across the great round table, divided in black and gold, equal and balanced. Tears started to collect at the corner of Luna's eyes, and for a moment Celestia softened. "Luna…"

"Princess Celestia?" A young pale pony said from the doorway. Wrapped in a simple white cotton dress and hood her pale blue eyes blinked at the pair. "Lord Huffington simply insists on a meeting this moment. I told him you were busy but…" she blinked behind her glasses, looking from Celestia to Luna, "Oh my, is everything all right?"

Whatever Celestia was to say was lost. "Yes, Honesty. Thank you. Please show in Lord Huffington. Let's get this over with."

"You don't care!" Luna yelled across the table! "You don't care about me or mother or father or anything except being in charge!"

"Princess Luna!" Honesty exclaimed in shock. But Luna turned and ran from the room, sobbing.

Twilight Sparkle stared up at the illusion hovering in the middle of the library. It wavered and then disappeared. "That's what turned you into Nightmare Moon? A silly argument over how long the day was in summer?"

"No," Luna said softly, "It wasn't just that. But it was the first time I thought Celestia didn't love me." Luna looked at Twilight with an ashamed little smile. "I know it seems terribly selfish now, but I was just a filly and I wanted desperately to feel like some pony… any pony… in Equestria loved me."

Twilight Sparkle chewed her lip. Her own parents were a distant, but steady reminder that no matter what happened there'd be two ponies who cared about her. What would she be like if she'd lost both of them at the same age? Would she have been at the Summer Solstice Festival and seen real magic for the first time? Twilight glanced over at Honesty. "You were there too?" It seemed incredible.

"The princesses are not the only ponies blessed with longevity." Honesty said with a humble little smile. "You see, I was to become one of the Princess' Elements of Harmony."

"You?" Twilight Sparkle gasped, and then thought about it again. "Wait, and your name? Kinda obvious which Element you were."

"The bearer of many an unhappy truth," Honesty said with a sad little smile. "Fortunately I've been blessed to help Celestia in one fashion or another. Keeping her books and records orderly is quite fulfilling for me at this age."

"What about the other Elements? Who was Celestia's Loyalty, Laughter, Kindness, and Generosity? What…" she glanced at Luna, standing there with her eyes closed and lips pressed firmly together. Slowly Twilight walked to her and gave her a little nuzzle. "I'm sorry, Princess Luna. We were talking over your memories, we're we. What can you tell us about Fury? Who was she?"

Luna looked at Twilight and raised her horn again, "She was like no pony I'd ever met before." The sunlight flared off the tip of Luna's horn, breaking into colors that reassembled themselves into a dusty boulevard. Luna looked older now, closer to Twilight's age. A circle of well groomed mares and colts surround Luna, sniggering to one another.

"Well it's not as if you're a real Princess." A white Unicorn said with a sneer that would persist through thirty six generations. "Auntie Celestia is the real power in Canterlot. You just take care of trifles after all the important things are dealt with."

"I am too a real Princess! I'm just the same as Celestia!" Luna protested as she turned again and again to face down the sniggers. "When I'm older you'll see!"

"Oh please," The ringleader snorted. "When you're older, so will she, and she'll still be in charge. Face it, one day she'll manage the sun and the moon and stars. And then where will you be? Probably exiled like your grandparents." The white Unicorn rubbed his chin, "On second thought, who'd take you?"

"Just… leave me alone! Why won't you leave me alone!" Luna cried out, but that just prompted more laughter.

"Raaaaaaah!" screamed a dark red mare charging head long into the knot of thoroughbreds. Her bright orange mane flaring, she leapt on to the Unicorn leader and drug him to the ground. "Leave her alone you jerks!" The small Earth pony said as she slammed her front hooves into his head and tore his fine clothes with her teeth. Some of the other colts tried to come to his aid as the fillies backed away in distress, but they quickly thought better of it as she bit ears and bucked savagely.

The ringleader finally found his feet and ran off crying, but not before the red mare had ripped out a chunk of his fine tail. "The princess will learn of this!" he bawled.

"She all ready does ya pointy headed jackass!" the red mare shouted after him. She turned and faced Luna with a grin. Her coat had to be the filthiest Luna had ever seen; scratched and covered with dark splotches. Her mane and tail were simply masses of tangles and dirt, and she was missing a front tooth. "Heh, sorry about that. Hope I can get a royal pardon for thumping some well dressed mules." Her grin wavered a little. "No, really. Um, if you don't pardon me I'm pretty sure that Blueblood will have my mane for his mantle." Through the black soot that covered her Luna could barely make out her cutie mark of a burning rock.

"You have it!" Luna said with a grateful smile.

"Whew. That's a relief. The name's Firedamp, yer princessness." She said, giving one of the worst bows in Canterlot and almost falling on her face before she straightened. "I'd given that lot a swift kick on general principle. They'd try to pull that on any pony if they can get away with it. Just a herd of well bred lunk heads. They'd never have tried that with your sister."

"No. They wouldn't, would they?" Luna said softly, frowning, bowing her head.

Firedamp's grin faded a little, but she gave Luna's shoulder a nudge with her hoof. "Well, any time you need somepony to give a swift kick to the head, let me know. But I better get back to the forges. Armor doesn't make itself."

"You work at the forges?"

"Ehhh… work at… live in… it's all the same, really." Firedamp said as she tilted her head to the left and right. She faced Luna with a casual little smirk. I'm an orphan, see? Better there than nowhere, ya know?" She said it so simply, as if it was no matter to her at all.

Luna just gazed at the filthy young mare and said softly, "I'm an orphan too." Firedamp looked awkward, rubbing the back of her head as she looked away in embarrassment. "Would you want to come with me to see the castle?" Firedamp's eyes were confused, and then popped wide.

"Would I? Sure! Can we see Valor's golden armor? I hear the forge ponies talking about it all time. And maybe get a bite to eat? Or two? Or three? Kicking thoroughbreds can build up an appetite!" Firedamp said happily as she pranced next to Luna on chipped hooves with that gap toothed grin.

"Sure," Luna said with a warm and happy smile as she walked besides her first real friend.

The image slowed to a freeze, and Twilight Sparkle just stared up at that ecstatic grin on the filthy young mare. "Firedamp." It was a strange word to Twilight, "What's that mean?"

"I'm not surprised you're unfamiliar with the term. It's a gas that builds up in coal mines; highly flammable. It's essentially a disaster waiting to happen." Honesty explained.

"That's unfair, Honesty," Luna said softly, with a frown. The pale mare gave an apologetic shrug.

"I see why she was your friend," Twilight Sparkle said softly. "You two had a lot in common."

"Everything and nothing, she always said." Luna smiled with a distant look, "Rich and poor, quiet and brash, afraid and fearless, but we were both lonely."

The image of the red pony disappeared in a swirl of color. Twilight closed her eyes. Everything had been so much different when she'd simply thought of Fury as a thing; something to be stopped. Now she wasn't Nightmare Fury any long. She was Firedamp, changed into a monster. Somehow she had to save her. She glanced at Luna and swallowed. Quietly she asked, "Luna, how did you learn how to become Nightmare Moon?"

Teal eyes closed.

This was the finest moment in the Equestrian Guard's history, Captain Goodlight reflected proudly as he looked down at the assembled ponies. A hundred ponies across and six deep, they had been gathered from all across Equestria. Pegasus, Unicorns, and Earth ponies alike. Ponies sharing their devotion to the Princess and to protect the realm. A Brigade of Light in defense of the realm! Goodlight's heart could have burst.

"Solders of Equestria," he shouted as he stood before him. "We gather this day for the finest battle in Equestria's history! A battle against an evil that good ponies have suffered from and been helpless to prevent! A battle in service to the Princess Celestia, as we have all sworn! This is our time. This is our glory!" He called as he raced back and forth before the assembled host.

"Huzzah! For the Princess! For Princess Celestia!" The cheer roared across the mile and a half separating the Equestrian Guard from Nightmare Fury, and Captain Goodlight took pride in the thought that the enemy of the kingdom heard their cheers.

"Let's not let our enemy wait for their demise, noble six hundred. All ponies, charge!" He said as he reared before the assembled soldiers and in a great silver wave they charged as one up the shallow valley. "Charge the Brigade of Light!"

The great table of Canterlot was as it had been those many years ago, covered in a variety of papers and documents of the princess. Luna sat in Celestia's chair, laughing brightly as Evening Star shared some of the more salacious gossip the bright blue Pegasus with a magenta mane had picked up around Canterlot. "I overheard Trueheart saying it myself." She said as she stood on the couch, put a hoof over her heart, and mimicked Celestia's friend perfectly, "Princess Luna places perilous preferences on ponies pretending position past proper perimeters!" She shook her head, sniggering. "Where does she get all those P's?"

"Trust me, if there's one thing Lady Trueheart doesn't lack, its P's. I understand she's also got Q's in surplus." Morning Mist replied softly, smiling as she joined the ribald humor. The lavender Unicorn folded her legs in front of her demurely, looking fondly from one friend to the next. No matter how she smiled and laughed so properly, a hint of pain lingered in her eyes.

"I can get all the 'P' out of Trueheart I need." Firedamp said with a smile. She looked so different cleaned and in polished steel armor, "I just have to give her the look."

"What look?" Evening Star grinned. Firedamp's grin disappeared and her red eyes focused on the Pegasus. "Yeah, I get it." Firedamp didn't move a muscle. Her red gaze bored into the Pegasus, who's who grin started to slide away. "Enough, Damp. I get it!" Firedamp finally cracked a smile, and the others laughed. Everypony except Evening Star, whom returned to her seat, muttering to herself as she scowled.

"Relax Evening Star. Firedamp doesn't mean anything by it." A gray Pegasus said with a fond smile at the red pony. Firedamp's eyes widened and she at once resumed the look. The gray Pegasus simply gazed on with a steady smile.

Suddenly from under the table came a loud thunk and Fury's eyes widened. She rubbed her rear leg with a pained wince, "You kicked me, Briar!"

"Well it worked, didn't it?" The gray Pegasus counted with a smile. The rose on her flank was such a difference from her gray and gray on gray. She had a particularly lovely blue rose tucked behind her ear and woven into her drab mane.

"Yeah, but you're not supposed to kick people." Firedamp protested. "I mean, you're not supposed to, Briar. You're too nice for that. I should be the one that kicks people. And bites. Pummels. Bucks. You know, the whole lot."

"Even lovely roses have thorns," Briar Rose replied calmly. Luna wondered where she found the magnificent flowers the Pegasus wore in her mane. Most Pegasus didn't care about plants beyond edibility.

Evening Star suddenly launched herself at Firedamp, "Sneak attack!" Firedamp barely had time to turn as the Pegasus barreled into her and the two rolled across the stones. Firedamp came out on top of course. Sitting on the Pegasus' belly, smiling and arching a brow. "Okay, fine, you win!" Firedamp rose and walked back towards her seat. Evening Star narrowed her eyes, " RE-Sneak attack!" She shouted as she tried again. This time Firedamp wasn't even knocked over as she sat down on Evening Star and looked to her friends as if she was sitting on a Pegasus shaped couch. "Get off! Get off get off get off!" The rest of them laughed as Firedamp rose, and even Evening Star joined in.

Luna watched on as her friends argued, bantered, and laughed with a fond smile. They were the only ones who spent the long and lonely nights with her. Year after year, Celestia had assumed complete command of the Realm save for those quiet inconsequential times from sundown to sunrise. There wasn't much governance needed at the rare ball that Mist came up with or while every pony snoozed. And in truth, as long as she had her friends, Luna was content. She may have wanted more, but she knew this wasn't a bad life.

"Enjoying yourself, sister?" Princess Celestia said from the doorway. Not just the Princess, her own inner circle. That fussy Trueheart, a bright green Unicorn who always looked scandalized at the sight of the five of them. Pale Honesty hanging back, blinking in concern and always looking worried. Of all of them the easy going Ribald was the only one that Luna could tolerate; the rose Earth pony seemed to always have the bawdiest songs at the ready with her lute. There was no love lost in the glares Firedamp gave Arclight, the electric blue Pegasus in matching armor fluttering as if ready to punt the red mare from the castle. Lily gave her sister a neutral expression as the lovely turquoise Pegasus remained calm and aloof from it all. At least Luna and Celestia acknowledged each other as sisters.

"Princess Celestia!" Luna cried out as she rose to her hooves, yet something was amiss. Very amiss. They were early, and Celestia was always punctual when it came to the rising and falling of the sun. Still, Luna trotted forward. "You'll be pleased to know that once again absolutely, positively, and without a doubt nothing happened tonight." Luna said with a smile and a bow.

"I'm glad to hear it. It'll be the last time nothing happens for a while." Celestia replied evenly. The tone was all wrong. It was official, even for Celestia.

"Celestia?" Luna asked softly, warily, aware something was terribly wrong.

"I've watched you, Luna, spending night after night wasting your potential with these… friends of yours. You could be doing so much more."

Luna stepped back towards the four as they rose. "I want to, Celestia! You know I do."

"Good. You'll have your opportunity. From this point on you'll accompany me on my royal duties. You need to learn the management of a kingdom as more than just planning for one of your silly Galas."

Morning Mist gasped, and Luna stepped in front of her friend. "I thought that the balls were spectacular. Mist and I spent days planning them!" They were one of the rare times everypony respected the night.

"A spectacular waste of time and money," Celestia countered, "You don't see the bigger picture, Luna. You can't see it at night. Ponies work for their money and we can't waste it on inconsequentials. Earth Ponies are laying the foundations for a brand new Pony community outside the Free Forest and we can't waste time on silly dresses and dancing all night."

"Well fine! The five of us will go help them." Luna countered in a rush as she looked back at her friends.

"And how can I know you won't mess it up, Luna? Have you ever had to take charge of anything of consequence?"

"I would have if you'd let me!" Luna shouted back.

"Could we please take it down a notch?" Evening Star said as she landed between the two, pointing a hoof at Celestia. "It's not right you say she can't cause she doesn't know how to rule when you're the one saying what she can and can't do." Her wings fluttered briskly as she hovered in place.

"The Princess will not be criticized by a half bred Pegasus." Trueheart countered coldly. "Everything she's ever done has been for Equestria, including directing her sister. A misbred Pegasus has no place addressed her."

"How about by a no breed pony?" Firedamp retorted, leaping besides Evening Star and stamping her hooves at the princess' friends.

There was a woosh and Arclight flashed across, turning to slam all four of her hooves into Firedamp's side and knocked her sliding across the floor. The electric blue Pegasus gritted her teeth, "You dare?"

"For Luna? You bet!" Firedamp retorted and launched herself at the Pegasus. The two went rolling into the corner, biting and kicking.

"Celestia, maybe we should reconsider this," Ribald said as the red pony walked up besides Celestia. She nodded her head at Luna with her easy smile, "This is a lot to throw on Luna at once. Little steps for a change? That way she won't pull a muscle taking the weight of the country off your shoulders?"

For a moment, Celestia seemed to relent. Honesty walked up on Celestia's other side. "There's time to wait, isn't there? The Dragons might be willing to wait a few years yet. And I'm sure the aristoponies will need a while to adjust as well. After all, it will take time for her to learn as you learned."

Celestia's eyes hardened, "I had to time to waste, Honesty. Not with silly little balls and crude ponies. And I see no point in wasting more time. Luna can join me and learn the duties required to run Equestria."

Even Celestia's coterie seemed shocked by this as Celestia turned to exit. Ribard glared at Celestia and the red mare grumbled, "For pony's sake, what's gotten into you lately, Celestia?" She looked back at the stunned Luna and the mare with the mandolin mark tried to share her easy smile, "Look, she's got a lot on her mind right now. Between the dragons and the dunderbred aristoponies and the new settlements… We'll talk with her about this later. All right, Luna girl?"

"Certainly there must be some way to resolve this," Honesty said quickly in her soft, scratchy voice. Her watery sky blue eyes looked from Luna to her friends. "This isn't fair."

Ribald looked at Honesty and the last two left together. Luna's legs finally gave way. She hugged her head, clenching her eyes shut. Suddenly she was a filly again arguing with her sister, knowing that she wouldn't win because Luna was Luna and Celestia was Celestia. Solemnly her friends gathered around her, no one daring to say a word in the stillness.

"So sad."

The voice was barely audible. A murmur in her ear in a strange mare's voice. She opened her eyes to glance at her friends, but they too looked confused. "Evening? Did… you say something?" The blue Pegasus shook her head firmly.

"So sad such a wrong should be visited on innocents," the whisper said again, soft and sibilant, "So wrong that no pony can stand up to such an injustice."

"Who's there?" Luna said as she stood, looking around for the speaker. "What are you talking about?"

"I know a way such a wrong can be fought. I know a way a pony could have the power to fight such a wrong." Everypony froze. Despite themselves, ears strained. The voice was silent for the longest time and nopony dared to speak. Then the whisper spoke again, and Luna imagined it was like the sound of her mother long ago. "Tell me, Princess Luna, have you ever wondered about your soul mark?"

The image faded away this time, but Twilight Sparkle's eyes stared widely at the empty space. "Soul mark?"

"What today ponies call their Cutie Mark," Honesty replied, "An older term from a more archaic time."

Twilight Sparkle felt so overwhelmed as she stared at Luna. The Princess just looked distant and sad. "How could Princess Celestia do that to you?"

"I beg you not to judge Princess Celestia harshly. She responded to harsh times as best she could and was under constant duress," Honesty said as she adjusted her glasses. "There were numerous attempts by many ponies to try and circumvent her authority. Equestria might have disintegrated had she not been as tough as she was." Honesty looked at Luna. "Celestia was desperate for help, and I fear that desperation prompted rash decisions. Had she known what was to come, perhaps things would have ended differently."

"So you listened to the whispers?" Twilight Sparkle asked as she walked to Luna.

Luna looked at Twilight Sparkle with a small smile and a flat look, "Do I look like an idiot? No pony listens to spooky whispers told to them in a magical disembodied voice. But we didn't tell any pony about the whisperer, either. We just hoped that Celestia would change her mind and let us be together again."

"Then… what made you become Nightmare Moon?"

Never had Captain Goodlight felt more glorious or free; his heart swelled with pride at the thunder of six hundred hooves beating in concern across the shallow valley. Pegasus would strike quick, evading flames. Unicorns would summon water and chains. Earth ponies would subdue for the Princess' Justice. Equestria itself rode against this threat!

The threat simply stood in a patch of char, smoke rising from behind the ridge. No doubt the farm beyond lay in desolation. A lone black shape rimmed in white flame simply stood, waiting for their summary punishment. Flames flickered into the ground as they spread around the Nightmare in a pool. For the first time, caution began to nibble at his mane.

Fire… into the ground? The flames weren't rising up but instead seemed to be sinking into the earth.

"All ponies, break off and reform! Break off and-"

The explosion roared across the valley separating Apple Acres from the bridge accompanied by a massive pillar of flaming Earth flying upwards into the sky. Another explosion, and another, and another; they blasted through the air like cannons shooting wads of stone skyward. Cannons to the left. Cannons to the right. Cannons ahead. The blasts drowned out any attempt at order as the line broke. Guardponies hesitated, looking to their officers for orders.

Through the dust and smoke, flaming cratered pocked the land in all directions save behind; the one direction he could not go. There was only one command he could give. "Forward! Charge Forward!" He tried to take to the sky to get above the torn field and lead his soldiers onward.

Then the skies fell atop him in a rain of stones.

Canterlot lacked real dungeons. There were stories about the horrible mountain dungeons of the old Pegasus King or enchanted pits of the Unicorn Queen, but Prince Valor and Princess Virtue had never installed them in Canterlot and Celestia preferred exile to imprisonment for those rare moments of capital punishment. Still, there were numerous underground cellars and store rooms that could convert to cells in a pinch. And right now, the cells were more than enough dungeon for Princess Luna.

It had been a horrible time since she'd left her friends to work with Celestia. Seeing the constant pressures Celestia faced hadn't made her sister's edicts any easier to bear, particularly for Luna's friends. Without her balls and night time festivals, Morning Mist had become like a ghost inhabiting the upper floors. Briar Rose had tried to send her flowers, but by the time they reached Luna they were withered bouquets. Evening Star seemed even more unstable and impulsive than before, trying desperately to find someplace to accept her. And Firedamp…

Slowly she descended the stairs and walked along the stone tunnel, horn glowing softly in the stark chamber. It illuminated the bars of the cell, and she tried to magic them open. The wrought iron refused her; the accursed metal was always fickle with magic. Steel was far more compliant to Unicorn magic. She put her front hooves in the grate, her glowing purple horn slipping through to illuminate the rust red pony in the corner. "Oh, Firedamp."

Slowly Firedamp lifted her head, her hide covered in dark splotches from the many bruises that were all ready starting to swell. "Hey, little Luna." She staggered as she rose to her feet, swayed, and sat hard on her haunches. "Sorry. Got in a fight."

Luna swallowed hard, "So I heard. With Blueblood. And half his family."

"I'm pretty sure there might have been some guards in there too. It's kind of blurry," Firedamp said as she brushed her hoof through her short chopped mane. There had. Almost two dozen before she'd been subdued.

Luna had a vague plan that one day her friends would help her in her duties just like Celestia's friends did her. Whether it was Arclight carrying out her orders, Trueheart keeping a thousand points of etiquette straight, Ribald cracking a perfectly timed sardonic quip, sad looking Honesty giving advice, or Lily just listening to ideas and problems they all helped Celestia run the kingdom. When she was alone in their company Celestia transformed into a different mare. She smiled and laughed and seemed like a sister Luna had lost so many years ago. Luna wanted to be with her friends again. She wanted to laugh again like she once had.

"Well don't worry. I'll have you pardoned and out of here. Just sit tight."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," murmured a voice from down the hall. Luna pulled out her horn to shine it on the pale mare Honesty. Her sad eyes looked up at Luna from under her hood. "I'm sorry but Firedamp has already been sentenced. She's to be exiled." Honesty coughed softly, "I'm afraid this attack on a noble family has forced Princess Celestia's hoof."

"No!" Luna gasped softly. She had to stop this.

Firedamp just laughed softly, "It's all right Luna. I'll probably be sent to Ponyville. It won't be that bad. Lots of Earth Ponies." There was no joy to her laugh, but she was trying to be strong. She was always trying to be strong, even when beaten and in a cell. "Pity I won't have boob-blood to punt though."

"I'll visit. And I'll bring you back!" Luna promised softly. "Even Celestia can't stand him! I'll bring her around." I have to.

Firedamp just sat there with that sickly frozen smile. Then Luna noticed that Honesty hadn't left. She stood like a ghost in her white coat and simple hood and dress, eyes dropped but occasionally glancing up at Luna. "What? What is it, Honesty?"

"I'm afraid that Blueblood's father was quite insistent. Firedamp isn't being sent to Ponyville." The albino mare said in a whisper, "She's being sent… west."

"West? West where? There's nothing west of Canterlot!" Luna shouted. Nothing, and a pony wouldn't last long alone. Luna's body chilled and stilled as she stared at Honesty. "No…"

Honesty hung her head a she turned away, "Well, I just wanted you to know…" Slowly she walked back towards the stairs, "…so you could say good-bye…"

Firedamp sat like a sack of rust, her eyes glassy and dull. "So, that's it then."

"Firedamp, no…" Luna begged softly.

The red mare didn't move as she stared at the floor. "It's okay, Luna. Better than Ponyville. I'm so angry all the time. Angry with Celestia for everything she's done to you. Angry with these aristoponies and their stupid pride and pettiness. Angry with myself for not being able to keep a cool head."

Luna sat, staring at her friend and tears ran down her cheeks. She stretched a hoof through the bars. "And… me?"

Firedamp slowly raised her eyes to meet Luna's. Her lips curled just a little and she stretched out her hoof to touch Luna's. "Never."

Luna clenched her eyes shut as she began to shake. Her little sniffles and hiccups echoed up and down the passageway. This wasn't real. This couldn't be real. It was a nightmare. This couldn't be happening! She bowed her head, the light of her horn dying till darkness engulfed them, but she could feel Firedamp's hoof still on hers.

Sitting there in the dark, Luna felt her insides twist and wrench. Her heart felt as if it died in her chest as her eyes changed hard and cold. She would be just like Celestia... no, she would be more than Celestia! Like her, she would be hard and cold and unloving; her soul mark became stark and sharp, more blade than moon. She would rule Equestria fairly, silence the aristoponies and punish those who were wicked and mean; in that horrible wrongness she felt power such as she could not imagine. She would be a Nightmare for every pony that had wronged her; her sister most of all. She was Nightmare Moon.

The darkness lifted slowly, leaving Twilight Sparkle to stare at Luna standing all alone in the shaft of sunlight. That had been more than just illusions. Twilight Sparkle felt as if, for a moment, she'd walked in Princess Luna's hooves. She found herself grateful that Dignity had taken the Cutie Mark Crusaders from the room. But more than that, Twilight Sparkle walked to Luna and wrapped her fore legs around the purple gray pony, hugging her as she trembled.

"I'm so sorry Luna. I'm so very sorry." What else could she possibly say after that?

Luna stood awkwardly, but didn't pull away. When Twilight Sparkle composed herself, the Princess looked into her eyes, "I wish I could give you more, but I don't really remember anything after that point. It's all broken up, like a bad dream you can't quite recall. The next thing I remember was a light cutting through the bad dream, and then seeing you and your friends."

"I can summarize the gap," Honesty said softly. "There are very few written histories that survived that period. Most of the battle has been recalled as myth and mare's tales. Nightmare Moon waged war against her sister for ten long and bitter years. The whole time Princess Celestia struggled to save Luna and Equestria alike. In the end, Nightmare Moon was banished forever."

"But she wasn't. She came back." Twilight Sparkle pointed out as she released Luna.

"Yes. You see, only four of the five elements of Harmony assisted in the binding. One refused to do so." Honesty ducked her head sheepishly as she looked at Luna from over the tops of her glasses, "I knew what Princess Celestia was doing was wrong, but I didn't stop her. I didn't try hard enough to make her see how her actions were a mistake."

Luna looked shocked to say the least. "I… Honesty… thank you."

"I'd appreciate if you didn't mention that to her majesty. It would be awkward," Honesty murmured, and Twilight Sparkle nodded at once. Straightening her thick glasses with a hoof, Honestly looked back at the stack of books. "Shortly after Nightmare Moon was banished, Nightmare Fury attacked Canterlot much as she is doing so now. In the fighting Ribald was slain, and so once again only four of Celestia's Elements of Harmony were able to assist in the binding. Nightmare Stryfe orchestrated the murder of Trueheart before she was bound in a mirror. Nightmare Vicious slew Lily in the Everfree forest as she tried to reason with her sister. She was bound in a tree. Nightmare Screamer killed Arclight before fleeing Equestria. By that point it was down to Celestia and I, and we focused on rebuilding Equestria."

"They died?" Twilight Sparkle felt sick. The thought of any of her friends gone forever hurt. Honesty nodded once to that question. "And Nightmare Whispers?"

"Disappeared, I'm afraid. As mysteriously as she appeared." Honesty concluded with a sigh. "I suppose without the other Nightmares she was too cowardly or powerless to act alone."

"Could she still be alive?" Twilight Sparkle asked in concern.

Honesty just gave a wan smile, "I am, Miss Sparkle. If Elements of Harmony can live so long, why not Elements of Discord?"

Luna turned to Luna looking quite drawn. Twilight Sparkle could only imagine how draining a spell like that had been. She had a new appreciation for the powers of the Princesses. "Was I able to help you, Twilight Sparkle?"

Twilight Sparkle thought for a moment, closing her eyes as she thought. "I think so. Maybe. But I'll need my friends. We won't have a chance without them."

Applejack looked at her friends, "All right. Final check for operation: Free Twilight. Rope?"

"Check!" said Rainbow Dash, holding the loop in her mouth, the hook dangling under her chin.

"Decoys?"

"Check!" Rarity said as she levitated the half dozen sewing dummies made in images of her friends.

"Honey?"

"C…c…. ready," Fluttershy said as she looked at the jars balanced carefully on her back.

"Whatever the hay Pinkie Pie's come up with?"

"Quack!" Went Pinkie Pie in a duck costume, a dozen balloons tied around her waist.

"Right. And apples?" She looked at her friends, then Applejack blinked and looked behind her at the bushel of red delicious. "Oh, right. Check." She took a deep breath and looked at her friends. "Let's do it."

True to their training and discipline, the guards hadn't left their positions at the library. They stood stalwart and defiant. Then a little metal hook slowly lowered behind an Earth pony guard and caught on the shoulder plates of his armor. The rope went taut and the guard disappeared into the sky with a wail.

"Halt, who goes there?" The guards shouted, looking around. Spotting the girls by the boutique, two charged towards the six, "You girls aren't supposed to be here! Ponyville is evacuated." Their hooves hit the patch of near perfectly round apples and went rolling right into the dummies and the stone wall behind them with a spectacular crash.

Two Pegasus stared at the sight of their comrades in a tangled heap with the dummies. Suddenly wet stickiness pattered down on them from above as Fluttershy coated them in the sticky ooze. "So sorry about this," Fluttershy muttered to the pair. An apple flew up, knocking hard into the beehive atop the Library. A cloud swarmed out, seemed to survey the library, and then buzzed down to engulf the two guards who flew away as fast as their wings could carry them.

The last guard, a Unicorn, crouched nervously before the door to the library. His glowing horn swept left and right when some pony yelled, "Duck!" He hit the dirt, then blinked and looked up into the face of the biggest, ugliest avian in Equestria. It opened its mouth wide and a pink pony's head popped out! "Quack!" He screamed, backing away furiously before tripping over his own hooves to land in a heap.

Applejack and her friends assembled before the tree, slapping hooves. "Now let's get in there and free Twilight Sparkle and the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Applejack declared.

Then the door to the library opened and Twilight Sparkle trotted out. "Hi girls," she said as she was followed by the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Dignity, Honesty, and finally Spike and Luna. The five friends went from shock to being stunned speechless at the sight of the Princess.

"Girls. Princess Luna. Princess Luna, my friends." Twilight Sparkle said as she gestured to the five ponies. Luna gave a small smile and a nod of her head. Twilight Sparkle could only imagine what Luna was feeling right now after what had happened to her circle of closest friends. She faced Luna, taking her gray purple hoof between her own. "We'll save her, Luna."

"Save her? You mean Fury? You mean Fury!" Applejack stammered. "What in tarnation are you talking about, Twilight?"

"Come with me. I'll fill you in on the details." Twilight Sparkle said as she passed on what she had learned about their foe. Dignity had the Cutie Mark Crusaders around her, keeping a stern eye on the three for any shenanigans.

Spike tapped his claws together, looking up at Princess Luna, "Um, Princess. Can I ask you something?" At her nod he looked back down at his claws. "Well, Celestia did all those things to you that made you become Nightmare Moon… so… why did you… well… agree to stay with her?"

Princess Luna closed her eyes, her mane billowing softly around her. "Do you remember that first argument? When it was over, I believed my sister didn't care about me. That she didn't love me." She looked over her shoulder at Canterlot sitting beautifully on its mountainside. "When she offered me forgiveness for everything that I had done, gave me a chance to be Luna again, I realized she did care. She always had." She looked down at Spike. "If she was willing to forgive me, how could I refuse her?"

Spike looked over at Twilight Sparkle and sighed, "Yeah. I guess I can understand that."

Princess Luna gave a soft sigh. "I can only hope that when this is over, Firedamp will do the same for me."