Author's Notes:

SMALL SPOILERS FOR THIS CHAPTER BELOW, BUT NECESSARY TO KNOW WHEN THE STORY COMES TO LUNA:
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For the telepathic scene:
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Purple-Luna

Dark Gray/Normal text- Deadpony

Nightmare Force- Light Gray

Twilight had never experienced a more difficult spell. If she wasn't aggressive enough the spell would not work and Luna warned that the enemy would have the perfect opportunity to take hold of her own life force. If that happened, The Deadpony would be able to use a similar spell to render Twilight paralyzed and under his control, perhaps even force her to fight her friends and the Princesses. Luna warned that she might not be able to stop Twilight from being taken over if this was the case, but Twilight could not be too aggressive with the spell either. If she was, the life force of the Deadpony would be conquered and would be defeated, but at a terrible cost. Twilight's life force would suffer the reaction of a too aggressive spell and would also diminish, a fate which nopony, no matter how powerful, could save her from.

Sweat fell from her chin as her face contorted from the concentration and sheer raw energy it took to perform the spell. Bushes and trees were one thing, but a pond was quite another. Luna suggested that a particular pond in the gardens would be an excellent tool for practice because the pond was not a single thing; water, vegetation, and many rocks came together to form the pond that ponies could examine and delight in. If too much focus was placed on just one part then she would fail her set parameters. She had to learn efficiency, control, and endurance, and this was easily the best thing in Canterlot to practice with to attain such skills.

While Twilight silently but fiercely struggled with the spell Princess Celestia spoke with many guard captains and arranged the tactics of their defensive measures. The captains were dedicated to the cause, but Celestia could easily sense the unnerving effect The Deadpony on each of them since reports came in of the destruction of the small town near the mountains.

"Princess, we have established six defensive stations inside the city and have evacuated all civilians from the capitol," one of the guards reported as he pointed out the stations on a map of the city.

"In addition," another captain pointed out, "several parties have been sent out to towns along the projected path of the Deadpony and have begun relocation efforts to bring civilians to safer locations."

"And what of the towns on the other side of Canterlot?" Celestia questioned as a another captain joined the group.

"They have been left with the bare minimum number of guards to maintain order and relative stability during this crisis while the rest join the attack effort," one of them replied.

"How many guards are being sent off to attack before he arrives here?"

"At this point we have sent well over 300 Princess, but we can send as many more as needed, or even recall those who have yet to face him."

"Send in more. I will trust your judgement as to the exact number, but we need more time; Twilight has a ways to go in learning the spell, and Cadence and Shining Armor have not yet arrived."

"As you wish, Princess," the guard responded and ran off after bowing to her.

The meeting continued and more orders were given while the Element users waited with themselves out in the city. Everypony that remained was a guard and most of them were running around to find a peer or to join a group in a task assigned to them by the Princess of the sun. Despite her enormous amount of responsibilities and all the questions and problems presented to her in the crisis, Celestia still found the time to raise the sun, and its rays shone out over the land in a sort of grim embrace. It was a more somber day than normal.

"Fluttershy, calm down, The Deadpony is nowhere near Canterlot!" Rainbow attempted to comfort her timid friend, though in the usual loud and confident tone that was a vital part of her character. Fluttershy remained hidden behind Applejack, shaking and looking nervously around.

"Oh I hope so...I really, really hope so..." Fluttershy managed to respond.

"Rainbow's right, Sugarcube, he's nowhere close. Even if he was the Princesses would protect us while we used the Elements to stop him," Applejack told her and put her hoof on Fluttershy's back, prompting her to stand up fully and rest easy in the company of her friends.

"That's if the Elements work, I mean we have no idea what stops this Deadpony pony. Maybe he just needs to have a cupcake?" Pinkie shrugged and offered, trying to brighten up the mood in a way that only Pinkie Pie could manage.

"I'm not so sure that'll do it, Pinkie," Rarity replied with a small giggle.

"And anyways, Twilight's working on that super powerful spell with Princess Luna, right? So everything will be fine, no need to worry. That Deadpony has got another thing coming if he thinks he'll be bringing eternal night to Equestria!" Rainbow proudly told her friends.

"That plan hasn't really worked out before," Rarity commented with a smile akin to Rainbow's on her face.

"You know this Deadpony fella reminds me of a villain we faced once...I can't place a hoof on a name though!" Pinkie told her friends and rubbed her hoof across her chin in thought.

"Try Nightmare Moon," Rainbow told her with the slightest of annoyance.

"Are you sure? I don't think that's it..." Pinkie replied and plopped down on the ground to continue the hard thinking she had been doing.

Rainbow sighed as Applejack gave a snicker at Pinkie's antics, though neither was really sure if she was serious...or just egging them along in another attempt to get a few laughs in. Before anypony else could speak up, they were joined by a guest who approached them so subtly none of them realized she was there until she spoke.

"As you surmise, The Deadpony is indeed related to Nightmare Moon," Princess Celestia confirmed as they all looked behind them to see the Princess of Day standing tall.

"No way! What are they, brother and sister?" Pinkie asked as everypony else bowed.

"I suppose there is no need to hide the truth...at least not from you," Celestia told them, causing the Element users to look at one another with confusion and interest.

"When my sister was on the road to becoming Nightmare Moon, she used dark magic to reanimate a dead pony warrior," Celestia explained to them, Fluttershy already having jumped behind Pinkie and peering out to Celestia with eyes wide open, "She intended to use him against any foe that was too strong for her alone. If things had gone differently at the Summer Sun Celebration, you might have faced him then and there. However that was not the case, and he grew in power for 1,000 years, finally awakening just last night, as Luna feared."

"So Princess Luna created this Deadpony fella to help her bring eternal night?" Applejack asked and slowly scratched the back of her head.

"Yes, and that goal has been carried on now that the force that controlled my sister has inherited the reanimated body of the Deadpony. It is now a more powerful foe than ever before."

"But why were you so secretive with this information?" Rarity asked.

"In part because my sister is still partially dealing with her actions as Nightmare Moon, and we agreed it might be best to keep this from most ponies, at least until after the Deadpony is stopped and the public regains its trust in Luna more. Aside from that, I did not wish for the pure terror of the idea frighten anypony away. We must stand against him together, for only united do we have a chance to stop him."

"Well the way I see it, his past don't change nothing. He's trying to bring eternal night to Equestria and we've got to stop him," Applejack proclaimed, the first to speak since Celestia's explanation.

"Yeah, Princess Luna's on our side now. The Deadpony better be prepared for a tough fight!" Rainbow added and smiled proudly to her friends.

"With such a spirit I know the Deadpony cannot break your will. It will be a tough fight, but by no means impossible. Stand firmly in the magic of friendship and be prepared to help one another in times of need. We will achieve victory my little ponies, remember this well," Celestia told them before turning away and heading off to attend to another matter.

"She's right, ya know. As long as we're there for each other, nothing can stop us. We've got to trust each other and help each other fight this guy," Applejack affirmed.

"Agreed," Rarity concurred.

"Yeah! We've got friendship on our side, and everypony knows friendship is technically three and three-fifths points better than a brother-sister relationship! And his sister doesn't even like him right now!" Pinkie told them all and smiled in the thoughts of victory and success.

"I guess..." Fluttershy quietly added, a fake smile painted on her lips.

...

While Twilight continued to practice the spell with the pond, Luna found refuge in the shade of the nearby trees and quietly laid down, closing her eyes and focusing a communication spell. While her sister plotted out the defense of the city and their plans of attack and her sister's pupil taking what Luna had told her to work on the spell, her duties were mostly fulfilled. She decided to put her "free time" to good use. She wasn't sure if her spell would work, and even if it did manage to find the recipient, it could always shut her out and refuse her.

She gasped slightly as the telepathic link between her and the Deadpony was opened:

Why have you made contact with The Deadpony?

You are no longer welcomed in my presence, Princess of the Night! You are weak!

Deadpony...you do not have to follow my orders from long ago. I was not myself, and I do not wish this plan to continue. Come to us in peace and we can revert the spell, you can go back to rest and we can all forget this conflict.

Keep your words to yourself! You will never sway my Deadpony. Never. I will NEVER let you compromise me again in my quest to bring eternal night and darkness to these lands!

Deadpony the choice is yours. You can end this quietly and easily, or you can bring about for yourself a hard end. Do not let my words from 1,000 years long past hold you back, and do not let the Nightmare Force influence you as it has and did me when i brought you back.

Foolish Alicorn! The Deadpony is already mine! His actions are my will and his thoughts are my commands to him! You created him to be used by others, and I am taking advantage of that weakness. He will never escape me and you will not escape my wrath, brought to you through his power.

Deadpony, what do you think of all this? What does your own spirit tell you?

What have I told you? He is mine. He is my puppet, whatever nonsense you spout to him is lost. I will not be persuaded and he cannot react to you. You waste your time. Be gone and await your doom as it tears through the weakling guards you send to stop it and comes closer with each passing second.

No.

*gasp

What? How dare you speak? I am your master Deadpony!

No, you are a bigger fool than anypony. Did you think i could ever be controlled? I used your power the first time and I have used it now. However, my power has grown since last we were together, and I have no further need of you. Suffer in your own darkness.

AAAAARRRRRGGGHHH! YOU CANNOT DESTROY ME! I AM THE NIGHTMARE FORCE! I AM YOUR MASTER!

Luna heard the Nightmare Force actually shatter under the massive power and will of the Deadpony. Luna felt the chill race through her spine and down every corner of her body as the Nightmare Force's existence was erased from the land and from everywhere it had ever been, her own body included. It was actually gone forever.

You face the Deadpony and the Deadpony alone. I will bring eternal darkness to this land, and I will destroy you all. None can stand against my power and none will persuade me against my duties, not even you, the one who re-created me.

But why? What is it that draws you to this goal? What has made you seek eternal darkness?

I am the Deadpony, and it is my purpose to bring darkness to all, regardless of your commands and the similar goal of the Nightmare Force. Like him, Princess Luna, you will rest in piece.

No...I once thought that nothing would stop me. I once thought that my darkness would consume the life of Equestria and beyond, but I was wrong. Darkness can only be appreciated when compared to light, Deadpony.

No light can stop me. No sentiment can make me waver. No power of friendship or love will be my undoing. That is the difference between you and I, Luna. I am not a soul that has weakness. I am the Deadpony. I am darkness and evil incarnate. You were an imitation living under the control of the spirit of the Nightmare Force, the same weak spirit I just crushed. This will be your final end and the last day in history.

With that the Deadpony broke communication and the spell was undone. Luna breathed in deeply and exhaled with another shiver as she opened her eyes. Twilight had improved, slightly, since she opened up the spell. The Deadpony was certainly strong, but even he had limits, no matter how much he might think otherwise.

Luna got up and went over the practicing unicorn as she attempted to evenly coat the entire pond with her spell.

"Twilight Sparkle, for the moment your practice is sufficient," Luna told her.

"What? How can it be? I've only just started to get into the habit of properly distributing my power over the life force," Twilight responded, her face looking up in confusion and worry into Luna's.

"You need more practice, but you are plagued by fatigue now. You must let your body and your life force rest for a time, and I need to talk with you now."

"I suppose so...what's the matter?"

"Firstly, I just finished a telepathic communication spell with the Deadpony. I have learned that the Nightmare Force is no longer a problem," Luna explained as Twilight's eyes quickly lit up.

"Really? Why? What happened?"

"The Deadpony shattered it. Literally," Luna replied and made Twilight's glow quickly disappear.

"So he's getting stronger?" The unicorn asked, her face now looking down at the ground.

"He is, but we have not lost yet. He can still be defeated with this spell, we'll just have to fight harder than he does. It won't be easy, but it must be done, and your training will now go even faster and you will be able to learn more swiftly with a certain spell I have in mind. We will get to that after your rest. You might also want to get some food."

"Oh, yeah. Definitely going to get some food. Is there anything else?"

"Yes, I need you to focus on me for a moment while I share something with you."

Luna's horn lit up with its magic glow as Twilight closed her eyes, her own horn lighting up. In her mind's eye Twilight felt a new presence enter into it. It was a strange feeling, but it didn't hurt. Twilight could best describe it as a kind of snapshot. A mere glimpse of another power that had been shown to her.

"What is it?" Twilight asked as she opened her eyes and both horns stopped glowing.

"It is the signature you must use when we face the Deadpony," Luna replied.

"What do you mean signature?" Twilight questioned.

"You have been using your life force to interact with those of living things, bushes, trees, and a pond. But in order to use it against the Deadpony, a reanimation, you must know his life force's "keeper", the spell used to bring him back long ago. In other words, you must be familiar with the spell that is keeping his once extinguished life force burning to interact with it. I shared the signature, the spell's essence with you in order for you to successfully try and conquer his life force."

"I didn't know i needed one...and this only applies to reanimted ponies, right?"

"Yes. A living pony can have their life force tapped into without a signature, but a reanimated pony cannot be accessed in such a way without going through the magic that keeps him in the physical world."

"So how did you come across it?" Twilight asked, seeing Luna's eyes drop towards the ground some and her head moving down a bit too.

"I made it."

"W-What? You mean...you made the spell that brought back the Deadpony...as in...you brought back the Deadpony?"

"It was 1,000 years ago. I wanted to make the perfect warrior to fight beside, and I did something terrible. I am ashamed and I feel the wrath of dark magic now...I'm just upset that all of Equestria must feel it with me."

"I'm sorry...I know you weren't exactly yourself then. I don't hold this against you, Princess. I will gladly help you fight against the Deadpony, because he threatens Equestria, my teacher, my friends, and you. I won't let him bring eternal darkness while I can help it," Twilight told Luna, who responded by opening her eyes up a little wider and letting her jaws separate a little before smiling and embracing Twilight.

"Thank you...thank you for once again believing in me and understanding me."

"Thank you for helping me help you."

"My sister has an excellent pupil and I have a wondrous friend," Luna happily acknowledge aloud.

...

"Cadence!" Princess Celestia happily exclaimed as her niece and her niece's husband finally arrived at Canterlot.

"Auntie Celestia, I'm so sorry we have to reunite under such horrible conditions," Cadence greeted with a hug as Shining Armor stood behind them and welcomed most of the Element users as they came forward.

"Hey, you're Twilight's friends!" Shining Armor greeted the majority of the mane six as they came over and bowed to the Princess of Love and the Prince of the Crystal Empire.

"It's wonderful to see you all again," Cadence said with a bright smile.

"And you, Princess," Rarity welcomed with a deep reverence for the pink alicorn.

"Say, where is Twilie anyways?" Shining Armor asked as the group began to walk along towards the throne room.

"Twilight is with my sister preparing a special spell to use against the Deadpony," Celestia explained.

"We got the message...has anything changed?" Cadence inquired, causing Celestia to look out towards the horizon as they continued along.

"As of now, there are reports coming in that two towns have been destroyed, but in both cases the citizens were evacuated...the guards did their duties," Celestia responded.

"I ordered a good portion of our troops here; they'll be along shortly to help defend the capitol," Shining Armor informed Celestia.

"Excellent news. This is truly the greatest threat to Equestria in a long time," Celestia said as she opened the doors of the palace and brought them through to the throne room. The palace itself was rather quiet, most guards being out and about in the city or in the immediate area. Along the way Celestia went over their specific plans and told Cadence and Shining Armor the roles they would be in when the Deadpony arrived to create eternal night.

"How long do you think we have until the Deadpony arrives?" Cadence asked her aunt after her husband had gone off to talk with some of the guard captains and help the strategy come together.

"With the forces that we have sent out to attack, I'd say we can expect him here tonight...maybe early tomorrow. I just hope that Twilight has had enough time to properly learn the spell."

"I believe she can do it," Cadence said with a smile.

"Of course she can, she'll be ready and we'll be there to support her," Rainbow Dash added, flying up above the rest of the group; the other Element users all nodded in agreement. Celestia smiled at the comment and breathed in deeply, and for the first time in what seemed like years, felt a true inner peace return to her. If but for the briefest of moments, she felt completely secure and totally empowered. Her closest friends and loved ones had gathered around her and the task of defeating the Deadpony was being attended to. If but for the briefest of moments, life was being very kind.

...
Far away from Canterlot another town burned. The guards there who opposed the Deadpony lay silently, the spell of control and torture that filled their eyes with the white magic aura of the Deadpony shone in almost all of their faces. The leader of this band of guards was the only one remaining and he was partially down already, barely managing to stay on his knees.

"The Princesses will stop you...the Princesses..." The guard was cut off when the Deadpony created a large tombstone with his magic. The tombstone was not solid, but the guard could not see through to the other side of the white object.

"This will be the fate of your beloved Princesses," The Deadpony told the guard ominously as he lifted up the captain with his magic and levitated him through the tombstone; the only sound that was made was that of the guard screaming in absolute terror, and by the time his whole body was inside the tombstone, even that sound disappeared, leaving only the sound of silence.

...
When the town was completely demolished and no structure was left standing, the Deadpony walked off towards the next one. After destroying that town he would move on again, and again, and again, until he reached Canterlot. It was only a matter of time now. As he walked along he saw the remains of the guard captain that had opposed him. He was nothing more than a pile of ashes now. Such was the fate of all who opposed the eternal darkness that the Deadpony was charged to bring to the world. The Tombstone was the ultimate judgement and it never left any who joined it whole or alive in any way. Such was the wrath of the Deadpony. Such was the ultimate fate for the Princesses and their allies.

"Let Equestria fear...Deadpony walking..." The Deadpony announced to the world quietly as he headed out towards Canterlot.