Zecora took her first nervous steps into the open field before the old castle ruins. This was the only part of the Everfree Forest that she dared not tread. Being a spiritually attuned shaman allowed her to sense the unrest of the spirits darting about the haunted ruins from miles away. Despite being well versed in dealing with things of spiritual nature she avoided dealing with the dark cloud that hung over the old castle. Why did she have to pick this place? The air around the ruins were thick with the smell of ectoplasm, tell tale signs of ghost or phantom activity. No matter where Zecora stood near the ruins, the feeling of dread washed over her in torrents. Zecora looked up at the moon, watching it shift slowly to the right.

"It is almost one AM, Luna is running very late." Zecora heard a loud growling like sound coming from further back in the castle. At first she ignored it, mistaking it for the sounds and whoops of many of the phantom ponies that still haunted this place. however, as the sound grew louder she could start to distinguish a familiar voice under the growl of rage. "Luna?" She said to herself as the growl became a blood curdling scream.

"AHHHH!" Luna's voice echoed across the night sky, loud and clear.

That was most definitely Princess Luna! "Hold on your majesty! I am coming to help!"

Zecora charged into the ruined castle. Galloping as fast as her legs could carry her in the direction of Luna's voice. She stopped half way into main foyer, noticing lights coming from a tower towards the back of the decayed fortress. Looking about the room she noticed a old tarnished silver door slightly vibrating on it's hinges, most likely from Luna's screams.

Zecora made a swift kick to the silver door and much to her surprise it fell forward off its hinges as if it were attached to the wall with hardened pastries instead of steel. Zecora charged up the stairs, the sound of the screaming getting louder and louder until it suddenly stopped.

No! I must help! Please be okay Luna.

Zecora could see the moon-glow bouncing off the walls of the spiral staircase. Just a bit more. As the doorway came into view Zecora stopped cold. A heart stopping, cold voice echoed throughout the fortress, one she thought she had heard before.

"Ha, ha, ha. AHHh ha ha ha ha!"

The voice felt like somepony had dumped ice water over her, the echos feeling like spikes closing around her throat and the cold eliciting shakes of fear out of the already panicked Zebra . Whatever that was, it means business. fighting against her own fear, Zecora slowly walked up to the doorway and into a large open room. On one side stood a large throne that had seen better days, Celestia sitting on said throne glaring at the other side, her hair oddly a flowing pink.

Zecora traced Celestia's eyes to the other side of the room. Her face went pale, standing opposite Celestia was Nightmare Moon. This is bad, very very bad.

"You cancelled the only holiday no, the only day any pony pays attention to my existence and for what? Extra daylight growing time for this years harvest?" Nightmare Moon Sneered, clearly Ignoring Zecora's presence.

Celestia held her ground, her eyes unwavering but full of worry at the same time. "Sister, I am dearly sorry but my hoof was forced. Right as we sealed away discord he turned all our crops into skittles, and ponies cannot live off just candy for the winter. Imagine all the dental bills, let alone all the scurvy. In this case tasting the rainbow is not a good long term solution."

"Nonsense!" Luna yelled, gritting her teeth. "The griffons offered to trade all of our changed crops for their massive grain surplus. It's win-win sister, we can just take that offer and...I won't have to feel so...lonely." The black Alicorns demeanor changed from anger to somber frustration. "I just want someone to look up to me, be my friend... like they do to you."

"Sister I...listen I cannot trade with the griffons when they are at war with the dragons to the south. To do so would get us caught up in another war we cannot possibly afford to be in. I promise you this Luna we will let your night last longer during the winter, even throw a few parties. I promise things will get better, just calm yourself down, you know full well what letting emotions buildup in us can do."

"Sister I...I'm sorry I.."

"NO! YOU FOAL! She's just trying to trick us! Take the kingdom for herself and make eternal day so everyone hates you and loves her!"

Two Shadows where shaking back and forth, fighting for control. One being the Luna Zecora knew and the other being none other than the terrifying Nightmare Moon.

"No, big sister wouldn't do that to me. Shes never been greedy like that...let go. I want control back."

"Foal! Why summon me as your courage if you are just going to back down to empty promises? No, I am taking full control. For our own good."

A dark shade of blackish grey began to creep around Luna, suffocating her, pinning her down as her body was being fought over by Nightmare Moon. Zecora didn't know what to do, her heart raced with fear at what was happening before her. She tried to shout , maybe calm Luna down but she knew full well she was no match for a angry Alicorn. I can't tell if this is happening right now or is a phantom of the past. Zecora studied the two Alicorns closely. No spirit particle bleed, both of them are in full colors and neither of them are transparent. Zecora closed her eyes and then reopened them, a brilliant yellow glow emanating from her eyes, yellow arcs of lightning crackling along the floor as she built up her power to attack.

"Save your energy Zecora, there is nothing you nor I can do."

Zecora looked other her shoulder to find none other than princess Luna behind her. Zecora opened her mouth but was quickly silenced with the wave of Luna's hoof.

"I will answer you questions about this later. For now just sit and watch."

Zecora turned her head back to the confrontation between Celestia and Luna. From the looks of Luna's oil black skin her meaner half had won over. "Celestia, dear sister. You look tired, maybe you should take a vacation and let me handle the problems of Equestria."

"You are no sister of mine. Mother warned us of letting our emotions get out of hoof. I can smell the jealousy that bred your existence from here."

"Come, come now. Is that anyway to talk to your dear..old SISTER!" Nightmare Moon's eyes went bright white, shadow magic building up around her horn. "Taking a vacation wasn't a suggestion, It was for your own health!" Nightmare Moon swung her head forward, unleashing a massive ball of dark magic. Celestia Jumped to the side in a attempt to dodge only to have the ball slam into her, knocking her to the ground with thunderous force.

"Luna, f-fight it. I don't want to hurt you."

"Then relent your throne, it is the less painful option."

"You already stated you will no yield to the day. I cannot allow such jealous self centered behavior ruin our kingdom. Without the light of the sun ponies will starve. Is your loneliness and jealousy worth the deaths of millions?"

"Mere theatrics sister, I will let the sun shine during growing season but any other time of the year will be eternal night. Now where was I..oh yes." Nightmare Moon Stomped her right hoof hard on the ground, sending bolts of black electricity right into Celestia.

"AAAHHHHHH" Celestia screamed in pain as the arcs of lightning cut her sides and singed her immortal wings.

"Dear sister, all you need to do is pass the torch of leadership to me. This is hurting me far more than it is you."

Celestia coughed up some blood on the floor but managed to stagger to her feet, a determined look in her eyes. "You will relinquish control to the real Luna or you will feel my wrath."

"*Snort pfft*ah ah ah ah ah" Nightmare Moon bent over laughing. " Seriously what do you plan to do, bleed on me? You can't be seriously considering fighting me. You were the egghead ruler, I was the one in charge of the entire military. You can't possibly think you can beat someone as well versed in war as me."

"Y-you never fought anything, it was all Luna's doing, not yours. Monster."

A distasteful sneer appeared on Nightmare Moon's face. "We are one in the same."

"Excuse me for not believing my sister capable of spawning such a detestable creature. I give you one last chance to relinquish control back to my sister before I banish you forever."

"This will be good" Nightmare Moon laughed. "I'm the sporting type, I'll even let you get a free shot. So by all means...try." Nightmare moon made a target made of shadow on her chest armor, taunting Celestia to strike her down.

Zecora watched closely as a crown with six gems on varying shapes appeared in front of Celestia's horn. He eyes glowed bright hot white, swirls of rainbow colors surrounding her body, swirling up to her horn.

The expression on Nightmare Moon's face went from haughty to outright fear. "Y-you wouldn't dare use that on me. The backlash alone in your condition could strip you of your immortality, maybe even kill you!"

Celestia hesitated. Shes right. The backlash from a attempt to destroy with the elements would kill me outright. There would be no point in freeing Luna only to have her live a immortal life of regret over my death. A banishment spell on the other hand might separate the two. A bluff will suffice. "Maybe so monster but if freeing my sister costs me my immortal life. Then so be it." Celestia reared up, the rainbow magic swirling around her horn violently and fired a beam of white light straight at Nightmare Moon.

"Impudent foal!"Sister no! Nightmare Moon formed a massive shadow barrier right as the white ball of magic struck her. "Ha! The elements are too week to destroy...me?" instead of breaking through the barrier, Celestia's spell enveloped Nightmare Moon in a bright white radiant light. "You switched to a banishment spell at the last moment...clever girl..." the magic swirled violently, until it was a mere pinprick of light, shooting straight at the moon.

Celestia collapsed onto the floor panting heavily, tears flowing freely from her eyes. "What have I done...L..Luna..I'm..so.sorr...y" the image of Celestia began to fade as she lost consciousness on the throne room floor.

Zecora turned to Princess Luna to find her horn was aglow. "Your majesty, what is it that I just witnessed and why is your horn glowing?"

Luna's horn stopped glowing, wiping a tear from her eye she composed herself to explain. "What you saw was the memory of my banishment to the moon burned into the very fabric of this castles foundation's by the usage of the elements of harmony by a Alicorn. The spell I was using just now was translating the dialogue for your ears. The old dialect everypony used back then is difficult to understand by ponies of this generation."

Zecora looked at where the old rotting throne sat. "How often does this image occur and for how long?"

Luna looked as if she wanted to cry but answered Zecora's question, if only meekly. "It repeats every night starting at midnight and has repeated ever since the night I was banished. My sister could not handle the sorrow of hearing it repeat every night, so she moved back into Canterlot...despite Canterlot being completely made of pie at the time."

Zecora arced her head quizzically. "Ancient architect was very strange back then was it not?"

Luna stiffed a giggle. "No, no, you misunderstand. Discords lingering magic turned much of the city into pie. On a lighter note Celestia did get quite fat after my banishment. Guilt eating and the fact she was surrounded by giant cherries everyday. In any case let us leave this dreadful room, I would much rather not be distracted by it."

Luna walked down the spiral staircase and Zecora followed suit but a lingering question in her mind kept popping up. "Luna, normally Celestia handles diplomatic matters, why the change?" Luna paused on the stairs for a moment and looked back at the Zebra. "We are quite aware of the goings on in your homeland Zecora. The information I share with you tonight must not be shared with anypony."

"I agree. If Maskia is planning what I think she is planning then it best not to put any ponies into panic."

Luna sighed deeply. "I have been spying on her and the other two large tribes for the past few months."

"How?"

Luna's horn glowed deep purple and her body bright hot white. Zecora covered her eyes with her hooves to shield her from the brightness. After a few moments she lowered her hooves to find not Luna but a oddly familiar looking young Zebra filly.

"Ahem" The small Zebra cleared her throat. "You're being so outdated Jimine, who cares if it's a mare? Not like it effects you any."

"Wait, you were at the astral springs when I confronted Maskia?"

In a puff of blue smoke Luna reverted back to her normal self. "Yes Zecora, but I have been listening in on the elders whispers and things are much worse than originally thought."

"How bad?"

Luna used her horn to paint a silver outline of a spear in the air in front of Zecora. "You recognize this spear, yes?

Zecora shuddered in place. She had only ever seen the abomination in front of her in old tribal texts but the silent souls with pained faces coming from the tip was undeniable. "Yes, that is the spear of sealing, the most horrible weapon ever crafted by Zebra kind."

"While the smaller tribes managed to steal and hide the perfected spear from Maskia, two other incomplete spears have been captured and destroyed. One of them here in Equestria. It is the very reason I asked you here tonight."

"Wait how did you know about..." Luna had a smirk on her face.

"I hope you don't mind me intruding on your dreams but I was a flower when zippy told you of what happened. I tried to contact him but being awake makes it quite difficult. I waited for him to maybe nod off, being a border guard and all but he seems very dutiful. commendable but infuriating."

"Guards are trained to stay awake for 50 hours shifts if need be. as for the weapon...my knowledge of that weapon is limited. I do not know how to go about destroying a perfected one princess if that is what you are after."

"I need not know that. My sister has destroyed one of them in the past. I need to know the effects of a pony struck with the spear as my sister is...indisposed at the moment to explain its full powers."

Zecora pawed at the stairs with her hoof. She knew of the stories of those struck by the spear but wasn't sure if they were myth or fact. "I..I only know myths about it."

"That will have to do for now, continue Zecora."

"It is said that those struck by the spear have their flesh burned away in a slow and painful manner, as if a thousand hot pokers suddenly covered their entire body. After it is done charring you, it rips off layers of flesh, slowly absorbing them into the shaft of the weapon. Finally, the weapon strikes your soul, absorbing that into the tip of the spear. I have no idea what happens to the absorbed soul but stories say you can sometimes hear the screams of agony coming from the tip."

Luna started to dry retch a bit. "What kind of depraved pony came up with such a horrific thing?I swear when I get my hooves on this Maskia..." Luna's eyes glowered a hot white, the Alicorn gritting her teeth in rage. Zecora paced back a few steps to leave the angry Alicorn some space.

"I..I'm sorry Zecora, I shouldn't lose my composure so easily."

"I wish not to pry but I must know why. What is the reason you are handling this? You never did answer that question."

Luna puffed her cheeks in indignantly but composed herself.Does she think me not capable of handling such matters? Despite feelings of inadequacy Luna's ears folded back as she lowered her voice. "My sister...she was hit with one of the imperfect spears during an assassination attempt just a few days ago."

Zecora covered her mouth, barely stiffing a gasp of surprise. "Does that mean... Celestia is..?"

Luna shook her head. "No thankfully that is not the case. Though from your information I'm not sure how she survived it. Either it affects Alicorn's differently or the spear itself was too weak to finish the job. She is however in a coma."

"Is she doing okay?"

"That I do not know. The weapon caused a fairly deep cut along her wings and her link with the sun was severed, returning her hair to that of a normal unicorn's and stripping her of her immortality."

"I hope the damage is not permanent."

"I hope not as well. Twilight Sparkle is currently busy finding a way to revive her link with the sun but she did find something useful about the imperfect spear."

"Which was?"

"That the perfected spear is what made all the smaller ones. When I destroyed the last one I could see the magical string attached to it vanish. Twilight theorized that it must have been connected to the original somehow."

Zecora sat on her haunches. Scratching her chin with her hoof she mused for a moment. "Well, the original was made to deal with dragons but I do not remember any stories of imperfect versions of it. It could be they found a way to make smaller versions using the power of the original."

"Is there a chance they could make another perfect spear?"

"Possibly but it takes hundreds of shaman focusing their magic for years at a time to create such a weapon. I think it more likely for Maskia to try and retrieve her original than create another."

"I see. Then why the need for smaller less powerful spears?"

Zecora inhaled deeply, not wanting to speak but knowing that Luna most likely already knew her next few words.

"War"

"War"

Both ponies stared at each other for a few moments before Luna broke the silence. "Onto other problems. I have personally granted you citizenship to Equestria over the objections of the envoys in the senate from allies of your old tribe. I would be very careful Zecora, if they attempted to kill my sister then they will have little problem making an attempt on your life."

"My life is of little consequence. I am far more worried about Fluttershy. Maskia would much rather use her life as a bargaining tool to get me to surrender to her will than kill me outright."

Luna seemed at a loss for words. "There are protections I can put in place, losing the element of kindness would cripple our kingdom. however, the cost is not what I would call fair."

"Please explain."

"I can cast a old spell to make her body un-plottable. Only the other elements and you would be able to even remember who she is. Any other animal or pony that looks at her will have their memory of her erased until I cancel the spell. This is the only way that I can guarantee her safety."

"I will talk with Fluttershy. I will have a answer for you within the week if she want's those protections." Zecora started down the stairs when Luna yelled from behind her.

"Zecora. You need to help her through this if she does go through with the protections. Being that isolated can drive a pony mad. I...I do not wish for such isolation and loneliness to turn her into a monster...as it did with me."

Zecora smiled at Luna. "I will do what I can to help Fluttershy with her decision. Even if she refuses the spell I will defend her with my life if need be."

"Z-zecora...I don't know how to thank you."

Zecora turned to Luna once more, remembering a line from a movie she had seen once. "And you will never have to."