Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the property of Hasbro. I make no legal claims to it whatsoever.

Author's notes: This story was completed prior to posting, and has been crossposted to my account on FIMFiction Dot Net, under the author name of AnoneMouseJr . Hope you enjoy. And if all goes well, sequels will be forthcoming. (Also, the version on FIMFiction has some alterations to text size for a few bits of dialogue.)

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Chapter 3

By Anon e Mouse Jr.

The time of the Summer Sun Celebration…

Some hours later, an entire town's worth of ponies stood in the square in front of Town Hall.

"Isn't this exciting?" one of them asked. "It's time to watch the sunrise!"

Twilight barely heard Pinkie's babbled response to them, focused as she was on the stage. "Please be there," she whispered.

Moondancer laid a hoof on her shoulder. "She'll be there," she said reassuringly. "She's the Princess. She can handle this."

Twilight nodded, and watched as Mayor Ivory Scroll stepped out onto the podium. "Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!"

Cheers filled the town square.

"In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year!" the mayor continued. "And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria... Princess Celestia!"

The curtains rose, to reveal...

Nothing.

Twilight's eyes widened. "Oh no..."

Moondancer's own eyes widened. "It can't be..."

Coughing, Ivory looked around the crowd of startled ponies. "Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!"

"Oh, there is," a deep, feminine voice said from behind her. "And that reason is ME!"

Gasps and shouts filled the area as a swirling black cloud appeared on the stage, forming into a tall alicorn mare. But unlike Princess Celestia, whose white coat and almost ethereal multi-colored mane were well known, this one was a blue so dark it was almost black, with an ethereal blue mane, and wore a lighter blue armor around her torso, with the same color hoofshoes and helmet.

"No..." Twilight whispered.

The dark mare let out an evil laugh. "Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little sun-loving faces."

"What did you do with our Princess?!" one of the other ponies yelled.

"Why, am I not royal enough for you?" Nightmare Moon chuckled. "Don't you know who I am? Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?"

Twilight started to speak, but Moondancer held up a hoof. "Remember what the Princess said..." she whispered.

"Oh, let her talk." The dark mare suddenly appeared in front of her. "You know me, I presume."

Twilight swallowed nervously. "I do... you're the Mare in the Moon. Nightmare Moon!"

Everypony gasped as Nightmare Moon nodded in satisfaction. "So you do remember me. Then you also know why I'm here."

"I do. You're here to... to..."

The larger mare let out an evil chuckle. "Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last FOREVER!"

Her evil laughter surrounded all of them as she faded into mist.

Ignoring the cries of "After her!", Twilight levitated Spike into her back. "Moondancer! Come on!"

"Where are we going?" Moondancer panted as she ran alongside Twilight.

"Back to the library! We've got to find more information!" Twilight told her.

"Wait up!" a voice called behind them. Derpy flew up. "I'm coming with you."

"So am I," added another pony. Turning around, Twilight saw a panting Coco Pommel following them. "That... being wants to get rid of the sun," she gasped out. "But if she does, it'll hurt my family... we need the sun to grow our apples! I can't let her get away with this!"

Twilight nodded. "Then come on!" Very soon, she and the others were back at the library. Pacing back and forth, she sighed. "I just wish I knew what to do... Princess Celestia's trap obviously didn't work. That means the only thing that can stop Nightmare Moon again is the Elements of Harmony, and I have no idea where to even start looking for them!"

"Um, you could check here," a small voice said.

Turning towards it, Twilight saw Scootaloo tapping a book that was sitting on the couch, next to a sleepy-looking Dinky. "I think this might be what you're looking for."

Taking the book, Twilight studied it. "The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide," she read. "Scootaloo, where did you find this?"

"I didn't. She did." Scootaloo pointed to Marble, who was sitting next to a bookcase and pointing to an empty space. "I guess that's where it was, anyway."

"Mm-hmm." Marble smiled. "My Marble Sense told me you'd need it." She ducked her head. "We all have a sixth sense in my family... they do different things, but they really do work."

"Iiiiiiiii'll take your word for it." Twilight opened the book, and began studying it. "Okay. Spike and Moondancer already know this, and at least some of you saw her... a thousand years ago, Nightmare Moon tried to make it night forever, but her sister defeated her with the Elements of Harmony and sealed her away in the moon. Princess Celestia knew she was coming back, and set a trap for her in Canterlot, but it obviously didn't work. Now she's loose, and the only things that can stop her again are the Elements of Harmony. Got that, everypony?"

A round of agreements filled the room, and Twilight smiled. "According to this book, there are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now..." Her eyes widened. "The Everfree Forest!"

"Then that's where we're going," Moondancer said firmly. "All of us."

"Not all of us." Derpy put her hoof down, her soft tone contrasting with her firm words. "Dinky and Scootaloo are staying here."

"Aww..." Scootaloo groaned.

"Don't you 'aww' me, young lady. I work very hard to support you and Dinky, and you know how much I love you both. And racing down the streets of Ponyville is one thing, but your mother would never forgive me if I let you go somewhere that dangerous, after I agreed to take care of you for her." She looked wistful. "I could never forgive myself if you got hurt."

"Aunt Derpy..." Throwing her forelegs around her aunt, Scootaloo nuzzled her. "I love you too."

Derpy nuzzled her back, then looked up at the others. "So, we're going."

"Right." Twilight took a deep breath. "Let's go, everypony."

The others nodded, and Derpy suddenly stopped short. "Oh, Spike! Could you watch Dinky and Scootaloo for me while we're gone?" She looked embarrassed. "I hate to bother you, but I really don't want to leave them alone, and with Amy out of town..."

"Sure thing." Spike saluted her, then paused. "Um, who's Amy?"

"Our usual foalsitter, Amethyst Star," Dinky explained from where she was laying. "She's visiting family in Fillydelphia this week."

"Okay. Don't worry, Ms. Hooves, you can count on me!"

Derpy nodded happily, then flew out the door, the other four mares trotting after her.

None of them noticed that a small orange pegasus was already sneaking out the back.