Panic gripped Rarity's heart. She had come so close to... no. No time for those thoughts now. The others were searching, and she must as well. Walking tall and glancing around the dark halls, the mare quietly realized the torch sconces emanated with an old magic. Magic, and she was the only one left who could do anything about it.

Dusk's voice whispered in her mind from the manticore fight an hour ago. “Draw at your magic. Feel the flames well up and focus upon them. Pull from the fire a single tongue of flame and let it shape into the form you need. Then will it to go where it must.” Combat magic was something she had never even thought to look into. It simply wasn't her style, but this was easy enough. Light the torch and leave a trail for the others..

The burst of flame in the torch sconce before her released a bloom of soft light, illuminating the ivory-white stone carvings around her. With a grin of self-confidence spreading, Rarity nodded smugly. “Well that worked well enou-” A sudden surge of magic echoed through her, cutting off her words, while her eyes went wide. In a rapid burst of old magic, the other torch wells around the hall burst into flame in one after another, brightening the hall in which she walked, and spiralling out of sight with the sound of still more torches flaring up with a sudden pop and gout of flame.

The sound of voices from the far reaches of the castle crying out at sudden arrival of light as if from nowhere were surprising, but amused her to no end. Grinning to herself she turned, and continued on through the halls of the long-abandoned castle. Maybe she was of some use after all; at least, with Dusk missing.

“Dear Princess Celestia, I am alone in a dark place. I chased Nightmare Moon as she attempted to run away with the Elements of Harmony and currently am wandering her dark shadow world. I have decided to temper my mind and ease the panic in my heart. So while I stop for a rest before searching on, I decided that this time should be spent sorting out my thoughts and filling out a report on Nightmare Moon as any normal student would. I thought this might help me find a weakness in the monster that others had missed in the past, even if my research of their works on her turned up nothing. I close this letter knowing it may never be found if I do not find a way to escape this shadow realm, so I must continue on I can not hear Princess Luna's voice any longer, but I can sense her in this darkness. And so I will sojourn on. Do not worry Princess, your sister will be freed from this black world of shadows, I promise on my life.

It was odd. Dusk almost wondered as he finished his writing just what might happen with the letter. If Barb was here he could have her use her spell to send the paper to Princess Celestia's private study. At least then, someone might find it someday. Alas, he was alone in this world, without his faithful assistant, off of whom to bounce ideas, and without his new-found friends, whose absence was only just starting to sink in.

Speaking to himself, he began to walk once more, his small journal thrown into a hidden pocket inside his jacket. “Of course, there's Rarity. She has an eye for details most others could never have been able to pick up. Here all I see are empty fields of shadows like some lost valley caked in a morning fog, just hiding the little details from me. I bet she would pick out things like... like...” He muttered darkly for a moment, looking for clues he couldn't see. He could, however, sense something invisible in the air around him, quietly beckoning to him. Magic was in the air. Tiny whispering bubbles of it scattered about the empty landscape around him.

Cupping one up and inspecting the mote he found it old, and stronger than anything he had dealt with, except... A grin split his lips his voice whisper soft. “Hello there Princess Celestia. I can see your signature in this. But when were you ever here? It's so odd. Tiny welts of magic. Why leave them in the darkness of this other world.” Dusk forced himself to stop. He had no time to consider, and swiftly turned away from the line of dots, lifting his gaze and reaching out to sense Princess Luna once more. A grin split his lips. “Oh, of course. A path, how good of you to spot so small a detail Rarity.” he snickered, the motes of magic were not a direct pathway, yet for all that, they winded like a hallway to guide him ever onwards.

Pinkie Pie had reached a dead end. Her casual, yet boundless energy had allowed her to scout out so much of her part of the castle without any real thought, and after Rarity turned the lights on it was easier still. But now, she sat in a room with her head resting against a wall and glaring at the outline of... well, what else could it be? “It's a door! But its just so set back into an archway in the wall.” She sighed, running a hand down across her face and taking a deep breath. “Why is there no way to open it then? I mean, if I was AJ, I'd just kick a hole in the wall. Dusk could probably melt a hole in it.

It had been twenty minutes and the brick door shape set into the wall was still nagging at the back of her mind. Slumped on the floor on the far side of the room, she shifted to place her hands behind her head and put her full, if rather questionable attention to the problem. “Well, no handle. No bookshelves, paintings or even a switch hidden in a candle or torch.” With a pout spreading, she gave a small kick to the shape of the door before her, muttering darkly. “I bet you even Fluttershy's crying might at least manage to guilt you into opening, door.”

The impact of her foot to the stones produced a resounding echo, further proving something existed behind it. “Oh poo. I might as well go admit to Rarity that I need her help.” Her shoulders slumped and head hung low, she stood with one hand on the stone door frame for support before she turned to walk away. “I can't believe a stupid door beat me.”

Yet, as Pinkie started to wander away a voice spoke up muttering derisively “Good riddance!” The voice was a dry and gritty whisper, low and even a little spiteful.

Pinkie swiftly whirled around, eyes huge and a grin suddenly returned to her face. “Who said that? Someone’s here? Can you help me with this stubborn door?” a low and gleeful giggle escaped her lips even as she rushed back the five or six feet she had walked away, swiftly glancing around from side to side and letting her baby blue eyes hunt for the source.

From seemingly nowhere, yet at the same time from directly before her eyes, the voice spoke out again. “Nobody's here you know, Just four walls and a door. No use in trying to pester someone for attention.”

Anyone else might have ran away screaming, or started to question their sanity. Pinkie instead, gently lifted a hand and stroked the doors um.. well, hopefully its cheek. This might make things really awkward if she got it wrong. “I'm sorry door. Do people often ignore you just ‘cause you’re a door? That’s mean! Don't worry though, I'm Pinkie Pie and I'm here to be your friend.”

Even the door was taken back. It's voice lifting a bit higher almost confused or even nervous. “You’re... my friend? I'm a door. Why would you be a door’s friend?”

Pinkie's deep grin flashed over her lips and she could only offer a shrug, her happy voice tender and low. “Why wouldn't I wanna be a door’s friend, friend?”

“And then there is Pinkie Pie.” Dusk snickered warmly at the idea of just thinking about Pinkie in this other realm. “In this place, I still think she could turn it on its head.” Relaxing in his thoughts, he followed the motes of magic, trusting that they had been left to provide a safe pathway. “I mean, she just thinks about things in such a different way.”

It felt like it had been hours since he had started to wander this shadow realm, and yet, he knew he was closer. That presence that his senses told him had to be Princess Luna was only getting stronger, but still he couldn't make anything out in the shapeless void before him, yet he was so happy to quietly chuckle a little to himself. “But you know. If I was to draw shapes into this shadow world...”

And suddenly, the world around him felt more 'real' around him, the motes of magic felt like torches implanted upon the walls of halls he wandered, and while he could still see into the shadow realm, outside, those walls somehow this made him feel more comfortable. Turning right and letting his gaze lift to the massive 'throne room' before him, a gasp slipped free of his lips at the sight.

Stopping before the window in the world, he could tell something was changing in the shadows, not just in his imagination. In the distance, that place he had picked out where he knew Princess Luna must be, the shadowy fog was twisting around itself, as if whipped in the wind and spiralling into shapes before his eyes.

A sudden burst of light blasted through the world around him, the impact being the first real thing he had ever really felt since entering this place other than the magic motes. His arms lowered and his gaze lifted to look once more up to see... a grey, stone temple in the shadow realm with a domed roof and grand pillars,along with a soaring onyx door, silver filigree decorating its surface. “It's like a pocket of the real world locked in the fog of this realm of whispers.” Shaking his head, he chuckled lightly to himself. “Don't worry Pinkie, I'm still gonna giggle at the ghosties.” Wearing a bright grin dancing on his lips, a now delighted Dusk picked up the pace.

Applejack shifted to force open yet another door, settling an intense gaze on the room inside. Her scrutinizing inspection of the ruins picked over every detail before giving a sigh and coughing at the dust thrown into the air. “Nothing. Always nothing. Just what is the point of so massive a castle without anything but broken furniture, collapsed roofs, and dust!” Grunting with disgust as the door was again slammed closed, she kicked lightly at the wall nearby.

AJ was stressed, and fighting it. The last two times the girls had met up, Rarity had told them all about lighting the torches. Then, Pinkie somehow found a hidden door that talked funny, and whose birthday they just HAD to go to next week. Even Dash and Fluttershy had cleared their respective sections of the castle quickly enough, Only she hadn't managed to satisfy her personal standard to say that the inspection was over.

Of course, they had all gone to see Pinkie's talking door, who as it turned out, wasn't a bad guy, if a little blunt. But, behind him was something worse. A door of that same strange light blue metal like Nightmare Moon's armor. Her leg still ached right up to the hip from trying to kick it down for a good hour. So, it was back to their respective sections of the castle to search.

For a moment, her thoughts turned to Dusk and his words to them before they each wandered off. She was so use to taking charge of things on the farm, but now she was the one who wasn't able to do anything to help the others make progress except to suggest 'keep looking around'. The words still felt bitter on her tongue.

Rounding the next corner, she continued, forcing herself to walk at an easy stride, working off the aching joints in her legs and trying to think past the problem of this locked door. For just a moment, she stopped before yet another identical side room, her footsteps in the dust a reminder she had already been here and checked this room. She was about to move on, but just as she started to turn away to walk on, a frustrated sigh slipped free of her lips. “No AJ, be sensible. Just ‘cause I looked here doesn't mean I couldn't have missed something.”

With a click, the door’s handle turned, swinging in on rusty hinges. Another room. A broken table. A layer of dust upon everything. Some rotten books. A silver key. Half a dozen rats running for holes in the wall. Broken chandler in the middle of the floor. Another sigh escaped as she finished a mental inventory of the room, comparing it to the list she had made last time and noting the number of rats had decreased.

Turning away she pulled at the door to let it click closed, yet even as the metal mechanism began to slide home, something whispered in the back of her mind. “A silver key? Where!”

“Dear Princess Celestia,
This shadow realm has vexed me at every turn! At last, I arrived at the base of the temple structure I had seen before, only to find no staircase or climbable surface to make my ascent to reach the temple doors. The shadowy fog that makes up the mesa is intangible to my touch or magic, so I compose this letter to clear my thoughts and hunt for some solution to my frustration. I am so close to your lost sister. If I had only been born a pegasus... If I'd ever studied teleportation, I could reach her. Instead, I am trapped here, but twenty odd feet below and without a solution.

It felt oddly guilty in a way, writing this second letter to The Princess after a futile search of the base of the damnable rise to the shrine, but, he was so frustrated. For all his strength in magic, his experiments with teleportation hadn't gotten him more than five or ten feet into the air. Still far from being able to grasp the firm ground he could see the temple resting upon and the landing had reminded him. While he felt no pain here, there was no guarantee that in the real world his body wasn't about to break from the strain he was putting it under.

Plus, he had taken Fluttershy's herbs, and had no way of knowing if it related to this world in any way or not. He certainly didn't feel any fatigue, and not one of his aches from the battle just hours...? days? ago against Nightmare Moon had returned to haunt him yet. A sigh, and he lifted to stand again, voice glum yet serious. “What might AJ say it? She was always so straightforward, so rational and... she just had an air of sound judgment about things. I have a problem; a hill I can't climb. I've already searched for a hidden path, or a ladder. I can’t jump high enough, or fly up; can't even magic my way over.”

He grunted, then gave a light chuckle. “Then I guess I just got to search again. Somewhere, I have to have missed something, right?” a light whistle escaped his lips as he walked off, eyes up to make sure he was following the outline of the temple's structure even as he carried on around its base.

Instantly, he knew something had changed while he wrote. And it wasn't even the motes of magic winking into existence before him that first altered him to that fact. The sight of a simple stone staircase that had somehow inconspicuously phased into the world as he made his lap, and he could see it already from some distance off. “Keep calm. It could be another Illusion, or a trick by Nightmare Moon to distract you from some trap.”

An easy stride carried him the remaining distance to the base of the simple, yet grand staircase. One foot lifted, gently tapping the surface of the stone. Testing it for traps, he eventually put his full weight up onto the level platform. “Well, I'll be a horse's uncle. It's really real. But how; why?” he pondered with a grunt, fingers dragging nails across his jaw. “Or maybe its her way of inviting me in.”

Dusk gave a shrug, smile on his lips as he continued up the stairs, testing each for stability before moving on to the next step, his weight always finding solid surface beneath his feet. “Doesn't matter one way or another. I'm here now, Princess Luna. I can't wait to meet Princess Celestia's long lost sister.”

Fluttershy was still awed by Pinkie's talking door when they returned again, this time with AJ standing tall and walking proud, even if she had finally let Fluttershy apply some ointment to her aching legs. The door's voice was foreboding as it warned them of the danger past the blue steel door, but the determined five pressed on, unlocking it with the tiny silver-white key and stepped inside. Of course, she had cowered at the back. She wanted to help her friends but... this was possibly Nightmare Moon's private study. No wonder Princess Celestia had abandoned this castle.

Bookshelves lined the walls of the room, but left space for towering picture windows that gave a grand display of the endless night sky, as well as the sweeping Everfree forest. As the five girls began inspecting things, Fluttershy hung back, keeping close to the door, and ready to be the first to bolt at any sign of danger.

Of course, when that danger came from behind her, she stood no chance of running. A sudden, strong hand wrapped about her throat, while the other gripped a coil of magic, holding her wrists tight behind her back. A sepulcher voice echoed throughout the room, even as pressure from that hand tore her neck back and razor sharp nails sliced into the curve of her jugular. “Welcome to my study you foolish girls. I see I've chased away the stallion at least. But couldn’t you five have had some similar common sense?”

The room froze for a moment as it dawned on her four friends to turn about, and look to Fluttershy. Trapped in the grip of Nightmare Moon's powerful hands, her head cocked violently back and arms pinned together. Their weakest friend now in the demon’s clutches. The threats and warnings came fast and aggressive.

Fluttershy couldn't hear any of them, her sobbing breath and gasps for air took up what little of her mind wasn't tormented by the pain of that grip. She was so lost in it, she couldn't even feel the wall when she was thrown against it. Her body fell to the ground, even as her friends charged into battle with the goddess.

It was not like she could do anything now. Dusk might have forced himself to stand up again, she realized. He had been broken so badly, yet he kept standing up and facing the next nightmare that this day had brought to challenge them. Even Rarity had started using her magic in ways she'd never heard of the mare attempting. And here she was, a crying mess on the floor.

An impact over her head brought Applejack's fight to an end, the powerful earth pony gasping for each ragged breath as she had been hurled into the wall far harder than Fluttershy herself. Crawling slowly over the frightened Pegasus stroked her friend’s face, words soft. “Oh Applejack... what do I do?”

Impressively, the cowgirl forced herself to roll over, coughing up blood before forcing herself to stand again, ignoring her dislocated shoulder and limp right arm. Her eyes were soft for a moment as she looked to her friend, pity clearly shining through. “Just run, Fluttershy. We can't win this fight. No reason you at least can't escape to warn others. Go on git!” Pinkie was tossed overhead, yet in her oddball way, managed to land on her feet, and AJ was off once more, teaming up with the other Earth mare to rejoin the fight.

Her heart was breaking. Fluttershy turned to one of the massive open windows, and crawled upon the ledge, preparing to leap into the endless night sky. A voice called to her, malevolent tones low, and teasing. “Oh Fluttershy. Don't go. If you go, I'll stop playing so nice with your friends... Why.. I might even kill one of them just for fun if you leave.”

A chill ran down the tormented pegasus’ spine, yet this time it wasn't a tremble of fear. Turning slowly she braced herself to face the giant goddess, her scattered friends a pile of bodies across the room. Taking a grasp on Applejack's neck, the once proud earth pony was limp in the goddess’ arms. Nightmare Moon's free hand gripped the mare's shoulders, ready to snap that neck, an evil glint dancing in those spiteful cat's eyes. One word left Fluttershy's lips, harsh, and low. “No.”

The goddess laughter in response was deafening. The full weight of her level glare upon the silly little filly, chiding voice sharp. “No? And what will you do about it, you frightened little foal?”

No words were needed to give her answer, Fluttershy's sudden blow was all the words needed today. In a single motion she had leapt from the windowsill and let her wings spread to their fullest, beating the air with a strength even Rainbow Dash rarely mustered. The blow to Nightmare Moon's cheek make her flinch backwards, AJ's body dropped in shock of the moment. But that moment wasn't over. Fluttershy was at war.

The temple was a simple affair on the inside. Dusk marveled at the temple, with its hallways unlit and made of real stone, not the shadow-fog the rest of this world had been. He had to pick his way along carefully, never risking use of his magic to light the path. Who knew when Nightmare Moon might come looking for him. He had made a half circle of the path when at last, the towering inner door stood before him, its undecorated steel a foreboding sight, almost indifferent to the world around it.

A deep breath was taken and his grip slipped around the door handle, twisting slowly and leaning forward only at the last moment to let it swing in silence. Inside was a single room that took up the rest of the temple’s depths, yet none of that was what got Dusk's full attention. In the centre of the room, chained at ankle and wrist hung the naked figure of Princess Luna.

There was no question in Dusk's mind it was her, from the ethereal blue mane filled with stars to the massive crescent moon cutie mark on both of her hips. She was exactly as the legends said, a towering goddess like her sister, like Princess Celestia. With no sign of Nightmare Moon anywhere, he slipped inside, closing the door once more. Walking with care, his eyes were wide as he searched any sign of traps. With nothing around that caught his attention, he dashed the short distance to the middle of the room. A heavy white sheet from a table beside Princess Luna was thrown over her bare chest, and a hand cupped the towering alicorn's cheek. Leaning in close, Dusk whispered quietly. “Princess? Are you alright? Please, speak softly, I've no clue if Nightmare Moon is around.”

Her cheek soft against Dusk's hand, the slumbering Princess Luna was slow to rouse, those deep cyan eyes gazing from a million miles away before looking back into his own. At last her lips moved to shape the words with slow fear radiant in her voice. “Young unicorn... you must flee. The Nightmare walks this realm unchecked. I've not the power to restrain her, this dark revenant who walks in my flesh.”

Dusk's ears rang with hopelessness at her words. His voice lifted with quiet despair. “You... and Nightmare?” A sharp swallow of breath as he looked back deep into her eyes once more, unable to keep from shivering at the implication.

The Princess’ gaze fell away, shame ringing in her low voice. “In my jealousy over Princesses Celestia's adoration by our people... I created inside me the nightmare who now terrorizes the world. Fly young stallion or the monster will come for you next.”

Behind them, a low laugh echoed, a powerful black figure strutting towards her trapped twin-self and Dusk with arms lightly crossed over her chest. “Oh come now. You know you want this just as much as I. Besides, poor Dusk here is far from unwelcome in this land.” The black shadow-mare snapped her fingers and her armor faded from existence and revealing her naked body with ample chest and shaved sex on full display for the stallion over whom she now towered. “Do you like what you see? Nightmare Moon I may be, but I am not an unloving goddess...”

For a moment Dusk suddenly knew how Fluttershy saw the world. Shocked by the situation around him, with Princesses Luna at his back and this dark goddess a towering temptation before him. Drawing a deep breath he locked his eyes upon the foul nightmare’s catlike pupils, his voice soft and unwaveringly calm. “I will not run Princess Luna. Be it this world or another, you need not fear Nightmare Moon tonight. I promised Princess Celestia I would free you and I'll not be made a liar by this shadow of your mind.” A low grin spread his lips, realizing that just like Fluttershy, he was thinking of another before his well being.

It was impossible, yet Fluttershy's sudden change of personality resulted in a continuous harsh beating that managed to drive the demonic alicorn goddess back into a nearby wall. Rainbow Dash's body shifted to force weak limbs to once more take up the effort of movement. Wings flapped and swayed with violent strokes to aid in her attempts to stand once more. “But, how? Not even with AJ's help could I even slow her down a little... That's just not fair!” And then as quickly as it all started Fluttershy's victory was thrown violently off, the fragile mare hurled violently back again.

Nightmare Moon was through playing games with with her toys. The rage at this sudden, shocking assault had overwhelmed the spiteful goddess' playfulness and pushed her far past the point of return. A single black-purple bolt of power formed, dark and vile purple and green hues wrapped around the outer edges of this display of a god’s strength. Fluttershy lay unaware of the danger upon the ground just feet away.

Dash realized she was already running as fast as her weak body could handle, but it was like she was moving in slow motion. Six long strides, and a swift leap into the air cast her forward in a single motion. Arms wrapped around the older pegasus and twisted their bodies around, protectively putting Dash's body between Fluttershy and the dark bolt of power. It snapped though the air, the bolt impacting square between the her wings.

The Dark Goddess’ sharp laughter echoed in the silence of the room. Her reaction to his rejection was callous, a violent display of a very different nature. “Then watch your friends die, foal. Watch, and know you could do nothing to help them without the sixth Element of Harmony.” A picture of the real world formed behind her, framed in the shadow-light of this dark world. It all happened in such insane slow motion, Fluttershy being thrown across the room, and Dash so suddenly running across the short distance, Dash’s drawing up the other mare and pulling her in close while turning to put herself in harm's way. Loyal to the end, even to her death... Loyal... to friends.

And then suddenly realization dawned on Dusk, a flash of inspiration that echoed forth and rippled through the dark world. Grinning, Dusk snapped his fingers, freezing the view of the real world and shaking his head. “But don’t you see, Nightmare Moon? I've had the sixth Element all along.” he paused, turning and stroking Princess Luna's cheek. “Do not worry Your Highness. I see it all now. Fear not, for today will be the last time you must fear another nightmare.”

What stopped the goddess from attacking him may never be known, yet dusk leapt forward jumping through that 'window' of reality and...

Suddenly, he was bursting through the walls of reality. Dusk Shine was back again, returned through a tear to land in reality once more. Falling in the space between Nightmare Moon and Dash, a single sharp wave of his hand deflected that black bolt of magic just as the alicorn goddess had done to him but a day before. His powerful glare levelled upon Nightmare Moon, even as he heard his friends gasp at his sudden reappearance from nothingness itself. The suddenly horrified Nightmare took a step back, gasping. “But how? I took the Elements from you! And you never found the sixth.”

Dusk raised a hand to wipe sweat from his brow. Back in reality, his wounds still existed. Standing tall and alone, he was shockingly exhausted, but he pressed on, grin warm and voice filled with pity. “You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that? Well, you're wrong, because the spirits of the elements are right here.”

Nightmare Moon drew back violently, edging towards the door while her cat's eyes grew wide. “What? You little foolish colt; thinking you could defeat me? Now you will never see your princess, or your sun! The night will last forever!”

Dusk reached down, hands drawing AJ once more to her feet at his side, a wide smile given to the towering earth mare as he cupped her cheek then turned to glare to the alicorn. “Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of... Honesty!” And with those simple words, a burst of light enveloped the strong farm mare in a vivid orange-yellow aura emanated from her body, while a solid metal choker formed out of thin air about the woman's neck, the gold polished to a mirror-like shine. In the front, a tourmaline that resembled her cutie mark.

Dusk turned, taking Fluttershy's still panting form from Dash's arms. His hands held her wrists gently before a light kiss landed on the mare's forehead, at last drawing her to look up and gasp sharply from something, Joy? Fear? “Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of... Kindness!” That same burst of power exploded forth to surround Fluttershy in its rich soft pink aura, edged with a deeper rose-pink edging. She was next to gain a tight metal band of gold about her throat, this one of a kunzite butterfly.

Next came Pinkie, who somehow knew it was her turn. Bouncing up beside Dusk and wrapping him around the neck in a tight hug before glaring at the now clearly aghast Nightmare Moon. “Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of... Laughter!” Or as Dusk thought privately, Courage. But for Pinkie... laughter just sounded more appropriate, even as Dusk got lost in his thoughts, a balloon of aquamarine gemstone formed in her necklace.

Unable to do anything more but watch Dusk as he moved to step over to the far side of the room, Nightmare Moon was frozen from shock. As he turned to pull a table out of his way, Dusk found Rarity, still laying wide eyed where she had landed when the fight had overwhelmed her. He took her by both hands and let her lean on him for a moment while she caught her breath before letting his gaze of pity return to the nightmare. “Rarity, who shared my burden when I couldn't walk another step with a meaningful self sacrifice represents the spirit of... Generosity!” Soon enough she too was blooming with a bright purple aura, her choker a single proud diamond of amethyst.

Releasing her and striding forward, he at last put a hand to Dash's shoulder, the mare had yet to move since he intercepted that bolt of dark magic. Yet, the instant he touched her, she melted into his arms in a very unabashed manner, holding him tight for a moment before she took a step back and punched him, playfully but hard in the shoulder. “What took you so long!”

Rubbing at his bruised shoulder, Dusk grinned back at the mare, his need to be playful shoot back. “And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her heart's desire, even at the risk of her life, represents the spirit of... Loyalty!” Suddenly the mare was airborne again, her self confidence restored and a dauntless gleam of determination suddenly flaring in her eyes. The red aura backing her hovering presence matched only by the ruby lighting bolt of the same hue on the gold band about her throat.

Dusk continued forward, towards the now cowering Nightmare, her eyes wide with open fear at the sight of the first five Elements of Harmony as they stood before her. Dusk's voice proud and calm as he pointed back over to his friends. “The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us.”

Nightmare Moon cried out in frustration, hunting for her only solution to her dreaded nightmare. “You still don't have the sixth Element! No spark of magic made it materialize!”

Cut back instantly, his voice cool calm and filled with a mixture of both world bounding joy and deep, crushing sadness. “But it did! Just a different kind of spark. I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear them, to see them, how much I cared about them. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that they all... are my friends!” Dusk had stopped, gazing over each girl in turn as he spoke again. Smile warm upon his lips. Resounding with the strength of his words to follow, a aura shaped as he spoke on, spreading to envelope not just Dusk, but all the gathered mares as well. “You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the... the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the Element of... Magic!”

With a burst of power, a crown of gold formed upon his head, resting heavily upon that simple mane of dark, royal blue hair. Formed in its band, was a pink sapphire in the shape of a six-pointed star, just like his cutie mark. Dusk closed his eyes, drawing strength from a new well he had never before felt and shaping it in a way that suddenly came natural to him. A rainbow of energy burst forth from the aura of pink that flooded over him and his friends, and blasted into Nightmare Moon with sudden and terrifying force. Nightmare Moon did not go quietly, her screaming voice ringing forth in raw fear “Nooo! Nooo!”

It was Applejack who awoke first from the backlash of power that swept over them as Dusk banished Nightmare Moon from the world. Rolling over and standing up, she realized all of her wounds from this endless night were gone. A finger found its way to her newfound jewelry only for the briefest of moments before she rushed to Fluttershy's side, as she was the closest, she called out to the room “Is everypony alright?”

Rainbow Dash was next to recover, a hand rubbing stiffly though her hair and a slight groan at the wash of power that had rippled over her just moments before. “Ugh, my head. Did anyone get the number of whatever it was that Dusk did to us?”

Rarity was to be the next on her feet, but was swiftly at Dusk's side, hand drawing his groaning form half into her lap, released all tension as she took in the fact he too had been healed by some aspect of the magic that had washed over them. “Oh, thank goodness... Fluttershy, I think you should look at this.”

Fluttershy pushed free to from AJ's arms and moved quick to join Rarity and the others as they gathered about Dusk. Her eyes were bright as she drew a hand across the once bruised ribs of their stallion... friend. “Why Rarity, it's so amazing... who knew the magic could heal so much.” A glance at Dusk's crown and then Rarity's choker, and a low gasp her voice warm. “And that gold band... it's emblem looks just like your cutie mark.”

Now all them took a moment to inspect the newly created gifts that represented their Element of Harmony. Rarity's voice a low gasp “What? Ooh. So does yours. So do they all... Amazing.”

Pinkie Pie was all laughter as she bounded around the others, grinning like a madman and pointing to her new present. “Look at mine! Look at mine!”

Even Rainbow Dash, hardly one to get overly attached to something as girly as a necklace spoke up, grinning wild as she stroked two fingers across the emblem. “Aw yeah.”

Applejack took her chance, shifting to turn to the still groaning Dusk, offering him a hand to help stand up even as Rarity pushed him from behind. Her voice was gleeful, if slightly ashamed. “Gee, Dusk! I thought you were just spoutin' a lot of hooey, but I reckon we really do represent the Elements of Friendship.”

A booming voice similar to the one they had been battling the last few days suddenly cast across the room, while outside the sun at last began to rise for the first time in far too long. Materializing from the first ray of sunlight to cast upon the ground before them, Princess Celestia strode forward, her smile warm, simple white dress without any flashy embellishments flowing in the wind of the world while that prismatic mane danced in the air over her shoulders in a totally different breeze. A few polished gold bands, free from any decoration, save some simple engraving lay upon her wrists, ankles, and throat, plus another as a band about her waist. “Indeed you do, dear mares.”

Standing at last, Dusk Shine gasped harshly and dropped into a deep bow before his teacher, his voice reverential and low. “Princess Celestia. You've returned!”

The Princess simply chuckled, watching as each of his friends joined in the deep and respectful bows, save Rarity, who gave a low curtsy instead. Her voice was light as a tender hand landed upon his shoulder. “Dusk Shine, my faithful student. I knew you could do it.”

Dusk was aghast, her words a confusing counter to the last time they had talked in his letter at the observatory in Canterlot. “But... you told me it was all an old mare’s tale; that I should forget it...”

Princess Celestia cupped his chin, lifting it so he might look up to her, voice buttery soft and kind even as she drew an arm around him and started to walk onward, leading the gathered six to the far side of the room. “I told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart. Now, if only another will as well. Princess Luna!” all turned to focus to the spot their rainbow of magic had blasted into Nightmare Moon, revealing the battered form of Princess Luna, dressed only in a white cloth clutched to her bare breast that reminded Dusk too much of a tablecloth he had thrown over her in another world.

The other Princess of Equestria gasped, shying away and drawing her hands to hide her face from the approaching people. Already fat tears welled up in her eyes and ran across her cheeks while she tried to turn away from those approaching her. It was Princess Celestia who spoke first, her hands softly cradling the weeping form of her younger sister tight while fingers stroked lovingly though that ethereal blue hair. “It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister.”

All but Dusk gave shocked gasps at this, though only because Princess Luna had all but admitted that very fact to him in the cage for herself she had built inside her mind. The others all muttered their soft confusion at the matter, Pinkie putting it simply but best. “Sister? With Nightmare Moon?”

Princess Celestia offered them a sad nod as she looked to the gathered six even while she huddled over her sister’s bawling figure. Both hands slipped in to draw up Princess Luna's face and she gazed deeply into the younger alicorn's eyes. “Will you accept my apology? I could find no other way back then to stop Nightmare Moon's rampage but to banish you both together.”

Forgiveness from Princess Luna was something she deeply had longed for, so when the younger sister's arms were cast about her older sibling’s shoulders and a tight hug was joined, all knew things were at last going to be better. Voice ravaged with the chest wrenching sobs of sorrow deep in her heart, she spoke directly, almost unseeing those gathered around. “I'm so sorry! My jealousy became my jailer. I couldn't control... I missed you so much, big sister!” Almost. Dusk could feel her gaze on him, something in her eye. As if she wanted to say something to him too.

Princess Celestia's soft tears began to fall as she cradled her dear, long lost sister close, laughing a little in joy at the fact a thousand years of shame for what she had done to her blood was at last beginning to leave. “I've missed you, too. All of Equestria has missed their Princess of the Night.” The soft words drew back Princess Luna's attention, letting Dusk at last relax again.

It was Pinky who turned to break this silence, blowing her nose then gesturing around the room. “Hey, you know what this calls for?”

Pinkie Pie cried out with delight over the gathered crowds of Ponyville, it had taken all her best work, but in only a few short hours all were gathered to celebrate “It's a welcome back Princess Luna / Goodbye forever Nightmare Moon party!”

All around, damage still remained from the battle. It had been nearly two days that they wandered the Everfree forest, including their time inside Nightmare Moon's Castle. In that time, Princess Cadence had taken care of those who could be saved, and helped by Shining Armor, had given mercy to those who could not. While many still felt sorrow for the lives lost, it was time to move on. The horror of Nightmare Moon's rule needed to be put behind them.

Dusk sat in a chair at the table of honour, with Princess Celestia to his left, and his new found friends to his right. His brother had convinced Princess Cadence to join the celebrations and sat with her on the other side of Princess Celestia, though currently Princess Luna and Cadence were in deep private conversation save the occasional interruption of someone presenting food, drink or even presents to the long lost diarch.

But even here, Dusk's heart was heavy. The day was won, but suddenly, he realized things going back to normal was not what he wanted anymore. A voice spoke out softly to him, yet with great power behind the words, it was Princess Celestia, and her golden tan hand rested on his own. “Why so glum, my faithful student? Are you not happy that your quest is complete and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?”

Dusk had been considering just this issue, and drawing up his strength, he at last took his turn to speak up, his eyes filled with internal debate going on in his head... and heart. “That's just it. Just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to leave them.”

The fact that this made Princess Celestia laugh, shocked him a little, his eyes going wider as she turned to the shorter chair between them and lifting her voice to be heard by the gathered crowd. “Barb, take a note, please.” A pause as the little dragoness pulled her quill and some parchment from a rather tear-soaked day-bag, though she had refused to talk about that with Dusk just yet. Quill in hand she placed it to the paper, nodding to The Princess. “I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Dusk Shine shall take on a new mission for Equestria. He must continue to study the magic of friendship. He must report to me his findings from his new home in Ponyville.”

That resulted in a sudden, loud cheer erupted forth from the gathered crowds, delighted at the prospect the hero of today might be living among them for some time to come. Dusk's blush was a dark red as he felt Rarity's hand on his from the other side, smiling warmly as he looked down across the line of his new friends. “Oh thank you, Princess Celestia! I'll study harder than ever before. And... I finally know what my graduate thesis will be on... The magic of friendship.”

Laughter rang forth at this, and Pinkie was suddenly hugging him and Rarity around the neck from behind, a silly grin upon her face as she looked around at the gathered crowd and spoke in the same rapid-fire manner she always adopted when she got too caught up in the moment. “Isn't this exciting? Are you excited cause I'm excited I've never been so excited, well, except for the time that I went” A pause, the mare drawing a sharp gasp of breath to dramatically re-enact her first encounter with Dusk before she started into her rant again.”but I mean really-”

Author's Notes:

And thus ends my attempt to take the first two episodes of MLP FIM and break them down then expand upon the story presented. I hope you all have enjoyed the work so far, as its been a thrilling experience for my personally.

Adding the Prologue before Chapter 1 gave me a chance to start smaller and work out some first ideas of foreshadowing as well as expanding on characters that the show really show have had present from the start if they wanted to make later event's feel less shoehorned-in.

Then came the behemoth of Chapter 1. At first I was going to include what became Interlude 1 in the first chapter, but as I went on, I quickly realized that 17 pages of text was already more then enough for the average reader, yet alone the extra seven that would in itself balloon into. It also let me think about bigger things, ways to change scenes from the show and hopefully improve on small issues that have nagged me at the very least. And that first Interlude? Expect more of them! They will range in length depending on the importance of the material contained inside. This first interlude was a great test and will help me with the next two that are coming up. And thanks to everyone who liked Dash and Nurse Redheart. I hadn't planed to do more with her, but now I'll keep that in mind.

Chapter 2 was all about flow of events and handling two things at the same time. I really enjoyed the challenge but it also drove me crazy trying to expand on things while also keeping Dusk's concision and the way his memory was out of order due to it make sense to the average reader. Hopefully everyone got that.

With this chapter, I was stuck for a long time on how to handle Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash's mirror events, I knew what I wanted them to show him inside the shadow world of Princess Luna's mind, but I couldn't figure out a great way to handle them. Then a friend suggested simply applying the mare's natural talents to the situation. Thus Pinkie decided to become friends with a door in a lost castle and Rainbow Dash put her life literately in the line of fire to save Fluttershy even though she knew it was a killing attack. Much love to my muse Azure Serial for that save!

Next up are two Interludes, both likely to be shorter then Chapters 1-3 but each with lots of room for expanding so I don't yet have a time table for ether one. First will come Interlude 2 - The Princess of the Night. All about the Moon Princess attempting to find herself a place in the world again after all this time and taking a hold of her duties after such a long time away.

Then there is Interlude 3- Dusk Shine gets to shagging... err I mean Private Conversations. For those wondering about the blogs I wrote profiling each of the main 5 mares plus Nightmare Moon, this interlude reveals the event's that lead up to those notes being written at Princess Celestia's request. It will also be the first major clop event in my storyline. And no, Rarity wont yet reveal to Dusk her secret, so keep waiting!

That's about all for now, thanks for all the views, likes, favorites and comments. Please feel free to ask or even message me about anything. I live for any kind of feed back, be it speculation to comments about how i spelt their and there wrong! Seriously guys and gals. Thanks again!

Version 2.0 posted April 29th, 2016. Focused on removing improper use of 'own' and 'would', as well as major formatting changes that have happened across the series.