Twilight Sparkle felt her whole world shifting and turning. If she focused carefully, quick flashes of Equestria could be seen through the torrents of light...always different. At some points it would be Ponyville, other times Canterlot Mountain.

As Twilight watched the landscape shifting, she slowly started noticing patterns in what she was seeing. Dead trees grew leaves and descended into the earth, the electric fence surrounding Ponyville was dismantled, the buildings becoming less and less derelict. Soon, the buildings, too, were dismantled, trees replacing where they once had been. Minutes turned to hours as Twilight gazed at this magnificent spectacle.

In time, the torrents of light grew less and less dramatic, as the pull on Twilight loosened. Twilight watched as the decades slowed into years, the years into months, and soon, she found herself able to walk freely, the pull completely gone. She noticed she was no longer in Canterlot Mountain, but in a large forest growing on what she assumed would become Ponyville.

Unlike the time-scroll she had used when she broke into the Starswirl Wing in Canterlot, this one seemed to allow her to remain for longer than a few seconds. She just hoped she would eventually be pulled back, and not be stranded here.

Twilight wondered how far back she had gone. At least centuries, but it could be longer. Twilight realized with a start that the sun was shining here. She had gone back before Nightmare Moon had taken over Equestria. The sun was a dim twilight, however, and in a few minutes it would be night.

Her thoughts were interrupted by an immense burst of orange light in the sky behind her, the sound of an explosion following closely. With no other leads, she ran in the direction of the flash.

As she ran, more and more quieter explosions pierced the silent twilight. Branches and thorns got in her way, scratching her body significantly, but Twilight didn't care.

Her bloodshed was the least of her concerns as she realized what she was witnessing.

She was standing on a cliff, overlooking the ancient Palace of the Royal Sisters. It was recently damaged, and Twilight concluded this must be the result of the explosions she had heard.  High above the castle, Princess Celestia was nimbly dodging violent barrages of magic from Nightmare Moon. Celestia performed a sleek turn and hovered in place, facing Nightmare Moon.

"Sister! I implore you, stop this madness!" She screamed, almost begging. Her voice, despite the distance, reverberated across the castle courtyards and up the cliff where Twilight was watching in horror.

"The great Princess Celestia..." Nightmare Moon sneered. "So loved by the world, so powerful, reduced to begging. Look, the sun is setting...on both Equestria, and your rule over it. Where are your precious Elements now?"

"Luna, please! Think about our subjects..."

Nightmare Moon continued as if Celestia had not spoken. "You did not possibly expect me to be so foolish as to leave them for you to use them against me. Then again, you've always had very little regard for your sister, haven't you?"

"Luna...you know that is not true. You know that you mean more than anything else in Equestria to me."

"I've been eclipsed by your greatness for far to long, Celestia," Nightmare Moon whispered angrily, as six objects began spinning around her hovering body. They began to glow as they spun, each a different color. They spun, faster and faster, until they were a blur of rainbow light.

Celestia tore off as soon as she saw exactly what Nightmare Moon was wielding. She flew rapidly over Twilight, with Nightmare Moon in close pursuit. Twilight ran after them through the forest, faster than before. She was not paying any attention to where she was running, her eyes fixated on the figures of the two alicorns flashing in and out of sight through the thick canopy overhead. Suddenly, the blur of light haloed around Nightmare Moon's flying form tore off ahead of her, striking Princess Celestia, the resounding impact and blinding surges of light seemingly covering all of Equestria for a mere second. Twilight watched in terror as the body of Princess Celestia fell, down and down. Nightmare Moon had stopped, watching the sunset and moonrise, paying no attention to the great crime she had just committed.

Twilight dashed through the trees, faster than she'd ever ran before. She could hear Nightmare Moon laughing above her as she watched the setting sun.

Eventually, she thought she could make out the white form of an alicorn in the growing thickets ahead.

"Princess Celestia!" She screamed, tears forming in her eyes. "Please don't be dead...please..."

Twilight could see Celestia's chest moving up and down, and gasped with relief. Celestia looked up at Twilight Sparkle, not with surprise or anger, but with sadness.

"My dear pony..." She started, her voice labored and weak. Twilight Sparkle could see a large gash tearing through Princess Celestia's side. Through it, blood was gushing rapidly, not red, but a metallic silver, with luster like the edges of a rainbow. She was unfamiliar with healing magic, but she tried her best to close the gash.

"No..." Princess Celestia struggled. "It is too late, my little pony. My time, like all others eventually, has come to an end. If I cannot save this world in life, then let my blood bring forth hope for my subjects."

"Please don't die, Princess....please."

Princess Celestia attempted a smile as she turned to face Twilight Sparkle, eye to eye, wincing in pain at the effort.

"You are not from this world. I can see it in your eyes. They have seen many trials, dangers, but there is also so much love and compassion in those eyes. Do not loose sight of it in the days to come. What is your name, my dear?"

"T...Twilight Sparkle..." she said between sobs.

"A name I shall remember, long after this night. The name of Equestria's last chance for hope."

Nightmare Moon had stopped laughing above. She would undoubtedly be coming down to finish the job soon. Princess Celestia noticed Twilight's skyward glance.

"Do not blame my sister for what has happened. If the world lives in hatred, even of her, my death will be meaningless. I will always love my subjects dearly, and I will always hold a special place in my heart for my dear sister, despite these events."

Princess Celestia turned to watch the moon rise over Equestria, tears running down her face. "I am sorry. I am sorry this world is all I could leave behind for my subjects."

With that, Princess Celestia closed her eyes, her blood continuing to seep into the earth underneath.

"Please...no..." Twilight cried softly, as Princess Celestia breathed her last breaths, her sides moving rapidly, before stopping completely.

The Princess of the Sun was dead.

Twilight wept softly into the growing night for what seemed like hours. In time, she became aware of strong wing-beats flying overhead.

"Celestia!" Nightmare Moon's voice called out into the night. "Celestia, show yourself!" Her voice grew increasingly desperate as she continued to call the Princess's name.

"Please, Celestia. Please, answer me," Nightmare Moon's voice was quavering, as if she was holding back tears. "Sister..."

Twilight hid in the thick bushes close to Princess Celestia's body. She heard Nightmare Moon land close by.

"No...oh please, no..." Nightmare Moon whispered, seeing Celestia's body. She ran up to it swiftly, cradling her older sister.

"I'm sorry, Sister. I am so, so sorry. I did not want for this to happen...please...forgive me," She was crying now, but making no sound. "Wake up, sister. You are just sleeping...please, speak to me..."

Nightmare Moon looked down at the earth, staring for a long time at her reflection in the shimmering liquid seeping into the earth.

"What have I become..." She cried softly to the world that was now hers. Equestria meant nothing to her, the only thing that mattered was her sister.

Underneath where the Princess lay, her blood dripped, down and down, dripping into an empty cavern, the translucent liquid forming a pool shimmering with light.

Twilight Sparkle could smell electricity growing in the air, and she knew her time here was limited. She ran through the forest quietly, not wanting to interrupt Nightmare Moon's mourning. When she thought she was far enough, she sat in the dirt, waiting for the familiar magical pull. She looked up at the moon's position in the sky, where it would remain for more than a thousand years. With the death of the princesses came the end of night and day, the moon hanging as a reminder of the tragedy she had just witnessed.

The electricity grew stronger, and when Twilight tried to move, she found it was impossible. The minutes once again blurred into hours as she watched the world age and die in a vivid time lapse.

When the blur of years finally slowed, Twilight was alarmed to find that she was not back at Canterlot Mountain, but still in the Everfree Forest. The clearing where she had waited was surprisingly unchanged from a thousand years ago, and she had no trouble orienting herself in the direction of Ponyville.

She started walking in the direction of Ponyville when her head began to ache. Suddenly, Nightmare Moon's voice was within her own mind again, much clearer than before.

Hello, Twilight Sparkle. Do not worry, the message I am about to present is not a threat. Your presence is cordially requested at the Castle of the Eternal Night, in the Everfree Forest. You have been temporary absolved of your crimes. Undoubtedly, you have many questions...as do I. Let us meet in peace and settle our differences without the aid of violence or retaliation. Or would you perhaps like the blood of more ponies on your hooves?

Twilight recognized a trap when she saw one, but after what she had just seen, she had a whole new perspective on Nightmare Moon's reign over Equestria, and the eternal night. She wondered how exactly Equestria descended so quickly into chaos, and knew this was the only way she was going to get answers. She remembered what Princess Celestia had said to her moments before dying. About how the world would only get worse if the hatred of Nightmare Moon were allowed to flourish. This spoke volumes of the Princess. Even in death, her last thoughts were with her sister, and not her own downfall. Twilight knew she had to be as brave as her, no matter what the cost might be.

A staircase stretched down from the cliff where she had watched the showdown between Celestia and Nightmare Moon. The Castle had since been repaired, but was largely the same. She found it miraculous that in more than a thousand years, Nightmare Moon had preserved the castle exactly as she remembered it.

Twilight reached the bottom of the steps and stood facing the castle, its sharp spires jutting into the air. There were no royal guards or harsh electric fences. It was absolutely unprotected, Nightmare Moon was obviously  fearless towards the intentions of The Resistance. Twilight walked towards the entrance to the castle, fear tingling down her spine. What was she doing here? Before she could even consider turning and running back, the large wooden gate to the castle courtyard opened by itself. Nightmare Moon was standing on the other side.

"You came," Nightmare Moon said, without much emotion. "Thank you."

Twilight wasn't sure how to respond to that, so she changed the subject. "I suppose you've spoken now with the other Twilight Sparkle. I trust she is watching us right now..."

Nightmare Moon looked at Twilight with her cold eyes. "You're honesty surprises me. What exactly are you, Twilight Sparkle? A clone?"

"Something like that. I'm not from around here, if that's what you mean."

"And yet you came swiftly..."

Twilight shrugged. "I was in the neighborhood."

Nightmare Moon began walking across the courtyard towards the entrance of the castle. Twilight Sparkle followed her, and the two went on without a word. After crossing a long causeway and ascending a tall set of stairs, they entered the throne room. Nightmare Moon turned to Twilight.

"I promised you answers. And I am willing to give them to you."

"Those things you said about your subjects when you spoke with me telepathically...you don't believe them, do you?"

"I love my subjects dearly, Twilight Sparkle. I am only trying to protect them from further harm," Nightmare Moon replied defensively.

"You love them," Twilight scoffed. "You murder them. You make them so afraid that they cannot even rebel against you, and the few who have the courage to stand up to you are shown no mercy whatsoever."

"YOU ARE WRONG!" Nightmare Moon suddenly screamed. "You know nothing of these matters, and yet you flaunt your thoughts around based on what little evidence you have seen. Do you think this is what I want? To rule the world under threat and fear?"

Twilight said nothing in reply.

"No," Nightmare Moon continued, pacing across the room. "It wasn't always like this, Twilight Sparkle. You might not believe it, but there was a time when my subjects lived in happiness and tranquility under the light of the moon. There was a time when I did not need executions or imprisonment to maintain order."

"Was that before or after you murdered Princess Celestia?" Twilight heard herself say.

Nightmare Moon whipped around quickly. Twilight braced herself for the royal Canterlot voice. It didn't come.

"Both..." Nightmare Moon whispered. "After the death of the Princess, I was overcome with guilt. I was responsible for the night that plagued the land. I tried desperately to raise the sun, but to no avail. Ponies were frightened, and in their fright, they turned to the only mare who offered any comfort. They did not understand what I had done to Princess Celestia, or why I had taken on such an intimidating form, but they chose to follow blindly. As the decades bled into centuries, my subjects lost any sense of doubt, and looked at me the same way they had looked upon my sister. But the peace was short-lived. I had thought that my subjects had forgotten the sunlight, but I was wrong. After more than five centuries of blind trust, more and more ponies gathered in protest of the night, demanding for the sun to be raised and the truth to be revealed. The name of "Princess Luna" was all but forgotten as I became known to my subjects as "Nightmare Moon." It didn't take long for the protests to escalate into full-scale civil wars."

Nightmare Moon stopped, and motioned at a stained glass mural of a violent war. One side of the battle was depicted under the sunlight, while the other took place under the moon.

"As you've probably already guessed, I was victorious in maintaining my control over Equestria. The survivors of The Resistance surrendered, and some escaped to the distant mountains, where their kin undoubtedly still remain. Yet others fled to the Changeling Kingdom, but I doubt they were met warmly. My authority returned, I tried desperately to regain the trust of my subjects, but I knew things would never be the same. The seeds of rebellion and doubt had been planted, even in the minds of those who fought for the night. It did not take long for those seeds to flourish into hatred, and another war seemed imminent. In a last attempt to prevent more vicious bloodshed, I saw no other choice but to begin reigning under the order you see today. I wish for nothing but peace, but I know that a pony guilty of my crimes can never be forgiven."

Twilight Sparkle was stunned. "Did you ever tell them about what happened to Princess Celestia? Did no one understand?"

"Twilight, it is impossible to forgive what I have done. Since the last sunset on Equestria, every action and order I gave to my subjects, every tragedy and triumph I watched unfold within my kingdom, one thing has always been present in the back of my mind. Guilt. I have never forgiven myself for what I have done, and I know I will never be able to. Every time I enter this throne room, something is missing. Every time I make announcements to my subjects, I long for the soothing voice of Celestia along side my own. I sit on a throne built over the corpse of the only pony who truly ever loved me. And yet so many ponies have approached me, calling me a murderer, that I betrayed the order of Equestria...as if I needed the reminder."

Twilight thought about her time travel scroll. She debated whether or not she should tell Nightmare Moon about it. For the sake of Princess Celestia, she decided she would have to. She explained what she had seen, and what she had the ability to do, but Nightmare Moon shook her head sadly.

"I have considered time travel magic for a long time. But even if I were able to reach back in time to the day I used the Elements against my sister, I am a vessel of evil...I cannot prevent the actions of what I have done. There is a civil war still raging, Twilight Sparkle...right here," Nightmare Moon motioned to her brain. "There are two voices, there always have been, ever since the beginning, ever since before it happened. Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon, locked in an epic battle for mastery over this body you see before you."

Twilight thought about Princess Luna, back in Equestria, fighting back Nightmare Moon, everyday, having no direct control over her choices without having to wage war for each one.

"I can see it in your eyes, Twilight Sparkle," Nightmare Moon's words were reminiscent of Princess Celestia's final words. "I can see bravery in them, the desire to do what is right. I have never seen that in my Twilight before...hers are filled with the same icy desire to control as mine. No remorse, or mercy...not like you. You are different."

Twilight couldn't tell whether to be frightened or flattered.

"I have been waiting for a long, long time for somepony who so efficiently represents the Elements Of Harmony. They cannot be wielded alone by a mere mortal, and they will no longer answer to me. I am powerless, Twilight Sparkle. I cannot raise the moon or the sun, all of Equestria has remained in this same frozen night since Princess Celestia died."

Twilight considered these words for a long while, comparing them to what she had seen over the course of the few days she had been here. Indeed, Nightmare Moon did not seem as blatantly evil as she remembered her, but she certainly was not the sort of pony she could see being respected.

There was still one thing bothering Twilight though. One thing that didn't quite add up.

"Why tell me all this?"

Nightmare Moon closed her eyes and broke her glare on Twilight.

"Hope, I suppose. This world will not survive much longer. Each century that comes to passes I am amazed that there are still ponies alive to see it, but I know that this world does not have many centuries left. I've done my best to provide food and warmth against the growing cold that covers the land, and I have been successful for this long, but in the end, I cannot save Equestria from myself. But perhaps you can. I will defend myself to the very end, because as I have said, I am a creature of hatred and loathing. I do not want to perish, but I certainly do not want to see my subjects perish either."

Suddenly, Nightmare Moon's expression changed from solemnity to anger and she furiously slammed a hoof down on the ground, cracks like spider-legs crawling across the marble floor.

"I know about the Mirror Pool now, Twilight Sparkle. I know where you come from. And I truly wish I did not."

"I...I understand." Twilight replied, and amazingly, she did.

"Your presence in this realm is changing you, Twilight Sparkle, for the worse. I'm sure you would take comfort in knowing that you failed to kill the two pegasi guards who were pursuing you back in Ponyville. But be warned, you are not from this disharmonious Equestria, do not expect to leave it unscathed by the bitter hatred I have unleashed upon this world. I suggest you leave now, if you hope to maintain your innocence, but I think we both know you will not. But at least leave my presence now. I have told all that I possibly can anyway."

Twilight Sparkle nodded in comprehension, turning to dash across the throne room floor, but stopped at the end of the hall when she heard Nightmare Moon speak again.

"Your world...the innocence and beauty...I hope you understand that I will do anything to save my subjects,Twilight Sparkle. Anything."

Without turning to acknowledge this statement, Twilight swiftly continued her exit, her hoofbeats drowning out Nightmare Moon's final whispered lament.

"Don't let me." She said to the empty room.

Through dark corridors Twilight ran, leaping down steps and darting through courtyards until the Everfree Forest was sprawled ahead of her, separated only by a stone archway.

"Not another step, imposter," Twilight Sparkle sneered, blocking her escape.