The land of Equestria is a place where ponies now know peace and harmony but it wasn’t always. There was a time when the two regal sisters waged wars, and death and sadness was commonplace. The sister’s first acts as rulers were to drive the untamable dragons off, while converting and domesticating others. They then turned their hooves and horns against the griffin tribes in the mountains and were aided by their dragon allies. These foes were defeated and submitted to the truces of the royal sisters. Then, they faced the one foe that could not be defeated with force… Discord.

Discord spread his chaos like a plague, driving all the ponies in Equestria crazy. Only the royal sisters had the power to stand against his power. As later came to be written, Celestia and Luna imprisoned Discord in stone using the Elements of Harmony and order was restored. However, Celestia – never wanting to see a repeat of the Discord disaster – became stricter, mercilessly dominating her subjects.

Celestia ruled with an iron hoof and even began to force her will upon her sister. Luna was upset by this change in her sister but did as she was asked, hoping that Celestia would realize how needlessly cruel she was becoming. But Celestia didn't stop; she just kept increasing the restrictions on her subjects – especially after a rogue tribe of griffins started raiding the villages near the border under cover of night. Luna couldn't stand being in the same building as her sister and took her vassals to one of the forts used during the war with the griffins. Celestia then put a curfew out that nopony was to be out or do any work at night. That was all Luna could take, she needed to change her sister back before she destroyed the free will of everypony in Equestria.

Talking had failed; Luna knew that she could not stand up to her sister unless she had more strength. Luna spent her night thinking of a way to proceed when she turned her ears to a home where a mother was warning her foal that if she didn't go to sleep that the moon would send horrible nightmares to her. Luna was hurt to see the ponies shunning her beautiful night, but as she walked away two words rang through Luna's head: Nightmare Moon. What a perfect name to hide behind! Under the alias, the night mare could gather strength to overthrow her sister and bring her peaceful night to all of Equestria, forever.

*****

Nightmare Moon needed to start building strength… an army and she knew just the ponies to ask. She started by heading over to the home of the strategist and smith, Golden Blade. Golden Blade had just finished cleaning up from his work when a knock came at his door. Golden Blade was shocked to see the Princess of the Night at his home and with haste knelt before her.

"To what do I owe the honor of a visit from the Princess of the Night?" Golden Blade asked, still kneeling.

"I have come to ask for your aid in overthrowing the tyrant, Celestia. She has wronged all ponies with her rules and I will suffer her no more," Nightmare announced, walking into Golden's home.

"I am not sure. But I do agree that Celestia has become more paranoid over the years. Not to mention her constantly restricting our time outside has made gathering supplies difficult."

"Then come and join my counsel. Be my strategist and help me plan the overthrow of Celestia and welcome in a new era of peace."

Golden Blade pondered for a while. "Very well, I will lend you my knowledge. Where will we be meeting?"

"There is a fort that we used in the war with the griffins in the woods to the east; meet me there under the full moon. Have your wares and mind ready," Nightmare said, walking out the door.

*Perfect,* Nightmare Moon thought as she spread her wings, *with a strategist like him my dream draws closer.* She then took to the sky and landed at a little cloud house and knocked at the door.
Fire Mane drowsily dragged herself out of bed and opened the door, still rubbing her eyes. "Do you have any idea what time it…" As Fire Mane's eyes focused and saw the Night Princess standing there and immediately bowed down. "I'm so sorry! I was just getting ready for bed I didn't mean to…"

Nightmare raised her hoof to silence the jabbering pegasus. "I didn't come to hear you babble. I came here to make you an offer. You are the best flyer and aerial combatant in Equestria and you have proven yourself in the war with the griffins. I am going to restore the peace we all knew once and stop my sister's insanity. I want you to help me. Lend me your wings."

Fire Mane looked over to her closet, where her barding hung, waiting to be worn once again. "I am at your disposal, my princess. I have really missed my night flights since your psychotic sister banned us from going out at night."

"Excellent. The old fortress in the eastern woods is where we will meet under the full moon."

"I'll be there," Fire Mane said with a smile.

As Nightmare Moon left she was feeling confident; she had two of the greatest warriors in Equestria already in her corner. Now all that was left was to find the unicorn she had chosen.

Nightmare Moon soared through the night and finally discovered his traveling cart, tied outside of Trottingham. A small sign hung on the door that said "Pendragon's Magic & Potions Closed". Nightmare couldn't sense anypony inside so she phased inside. Once inside Nightmare found a note on the table which said, 'Out. Please don't steal my stuff'. Nightmare was disappointed that he was not around, but left him a note.

'Coltyn Pendragon, your presence is requested at the old fort in the eastern woods on the night of the full moon. Do not be late. Princess Luna of Equestria'

Nightmare left his little cart and went off to her castle to wait for her new advisors to show.

*****

The sun shone over the horizon as a red light shone from the traveling cart as Coltyn appeared inside.

"Well that went better than expected; it only took a trip half way around the world," Coltyn muttered sarcastically to himself, as he looked down at a jet black stone. "Worth it, though. I finally have what I need to gain immortality. Now back to work."

Coltyn walked up to the counter, noticing the note as he dropped his saddlebag on the floor.

"What's this?" Coltyn picked up the note to read it. "A summons from Princess Luna? Hmm… well, I am not one to disappoint, but first things first."

Coltyn fired up his cauldron and began to add ingredients into the pot as he chanted aloud. He then pulled out a stone known as Darksteel due to its coal black color and magical properties. Coltyn continued to chant over the cauldron and the stone dissolved into the mixture, turning the entire mass black. As Coltyn mixed the potion, it popped and black smoke rose from the cauldron. Coltyn picked up a small bowl and filled it with the mix and swallowed it, gagging.

"Holy horse apples, that was nasty. Only a lot to go… this is going to suck."

Coltyn continued to choke down the mixture which became easier as he progressed, eventually drinking it all down. After he took in the last of the mixture he chanted the incantation he’d memorized before brewing the foul stuff, and as it took effect his eyes gave off an unearthly glow as they turned black. Coltyn then was engulfed in black tendrils that protruded from every area of his body and wrapped him in a cocoon. As the cocoon broke Coltyn fell to the floor, unconscious.

When Coltyn picked himself up about an hour later, he shook his head.

"My word, that was horrible. It was worth it though to never be able to die – now I can use my power to its fullest extent."

Coltyn smirked evilly as he felt the Darksteel coursing through his entire being, granting its everlasting power to him.

"Now, off to see what my princess of the night wants."

Coltyn went outside and began to draw a large teleportation circle around his cart. He went back inside, and moments later, dark shadows engulfed the cart and then it disappeared into the darkness.

*****

Coltyn and his cart appeared on the outskirts of the old fort. He walked out and running into Golden Blade.

"Hey Golden, haven't seen you since we took out that nest of griffins a few years ago. How have you been?"

"Not bad, although it has been slow and boring. With no war or strife ponies don't require tools of death.” He heaved a sigh. “Well not everypony wants to live in a world constantly at war but I earned my mark in the war. I guess I'm just going to have to get used to this peace."

"I hear you. Now that ponies aren't out for blood, my dark magic is pretty useless. I am fortunate in that I’m versed in potions so I can keep busy. But I agree this peace is kind of boring for ponies like us."

As Coltyn and Golden made their way to the castle, they saw a streak blaze across the sky. Fire Mane came in for a landing nearby, trailing red-gold tendrils of flame.

"Hey guys, you got a summons, too?" Fire Mane asked, folding her wings in.

"Yeah," Golden Blade said.

"I only got a letter. I was busy elsewhere," Coltyn said, levitating a note from his saddlebag.

The three walked into the fort and went to the main hall leading into Nightmare Moon's audience chamber. As they approached the Princess, they all bowed down.

"We have come as requested, Princess of the Night," the three ponies said in unison as they rose and stood at attention.

"Well done, my faithful ponies. I have summoned you here because I have become tired of my sister’s tyrannical rule. She will not let our ponies enjoy my night; she restricts their freedoms and I will not stand for it. We will overthrow her and my beautiful peaceful night will rule over Equestria," Nightmare Moon said, pacing before the three ponies standing at attention. "I however cannot do this as Princess Luna, so I need you three to kidnap me so I can devote all my power to overthrowing my sister."

"If I may your majesty, won't your night guards try to stop us?" Fire Mane asked.

"My sister made me disband my night guard. I am now guarded by her flunkies," Nightmare explained, grinding her teeth.

"So, are casualties acceptable, or shall this be a quiet extraction?" Golden asked, his mind already putting a plan together.

"I would prefer a quiet kidnapping, but if those fools get in your way, kill them," Nightmare responded darkly, making it evident that she wanted bloodshed without explicitly saying so.

The three exchanged looks and nodded, in perfect accord.

"We will start the preparations immediately. When would you like this to happen?" Coltyn asked.

"As soon as possible, but first you three need to start building an army. Go now and meet back here in three months to finalize the kidnapping so that we may begin our true campaign to save Equestria from my sister," Nightmare commanded, pointing to the door.

The three bowed and walked out. They gathered in Coltyn's cart and began drawing up plans.

*****

The three of them devised a way to convince others to join their cause, starting with those they had fought beside in the past whom they knew to be loyal to Princess Luna. Coltyn fashioned small pins to let others know that they are a part of Nightmare's army. As Golden Blade started to fashion new equipment, Fire Mane worked on building her aerial squadron. Within the three months they had been able to gather, outfit and train almost a thousand ponies in the art of combat.

On the night of the new moon, the army met together at Nightmare's Castle as the final step of preparation was about to take place… the mock kidnapping of Princess Luna. Nightmare Moon gave Golden, Fire and Coltyn the evening's guard rotation and they planned the perfect time to strike. Nightmare quickly returned to the palace and awaited her abduction.

The three donned their barding and teleported to the outskirts of Canterlot. They knew exactly where Nightmare Moon was waiting for them and they began their entry into the castle. The walls were not well guarded making it easy to slip in undetected. They made their way through the halls of the castle, easily keeping out of sight. When they came upon Nightmare's room, there were two white ponies in heavy armor guarding the door, one pegasus and one unicorn. Fire Mane flew up to the ceiling and knocked down some of the crystals from a chandelier further down the hall. The two guards in front of the door went to go see what the noise was and as soon as they were out of sight Coltyn and Golden were at the door.

Coltyn pushed the door open with magic and they met Nightmare Moon in her Luna form. The two bound Luna and placed her on Golden's back as they made their escape making sure to shut the door behind them and left a note: 'We are taking back the night'. Fire Mane had already arrived at the rendezvous point when Coltyn and Golden Blade showed up. They made for the wall and were they were spotted by one of the staff who had worked late and was going to her room. Not wanting to have her raise an alarm, Fire Mane swooped at her, slamming her hooves hard into her, crushing her skull. They quickly made it over the wall and back to where they appeared. Coltyn's horn glowed and then they were all enveloped by darkness and were gone.

*****

Nightmare Moon, now freed from her sister’s control, stood before her new army.

"You are all here because you are tired of my sister's tyrannical rule. We have gathered all of you here to finally show my sister that we will not succumb to her will and bend to her every command. My three generals will give you instructions. Rest today for when the moon rises next we shall begin our march to take Equestria away from the tyrant and her minions."

With a resounding cheer, the crowd filed out. Golden Blade and Fire Mane equipped each pony with barding. Coltyn divided the ponies into three different squads, each a mix of pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies. The army was ready; the night would be free again and the tyrant would fall.

*****

In the first battle of the war, the pegasus warriors took over Cloudsdale. With no pony expecting an attack, it was an easy victory. The ponies of Cloudsdale joined the army of the Night, surrendered and were imprisoned, or they resisted and died. With Cloudsdale under the Night's control there was no threat of counterattack from behind. The only thing left was to march through the woods and start the siege of Canterlot.

The siege started out well, cutting off supplies going in and taking shots at bringing down the walls. The resistance was more than Nightmare’s forces expected, however, and soon they were pushing back and the army of Nightmare Moon was losing ground. The army of the sun had made progress against the army of the night. The army of the night had retreated into the woods. Coltyn had a plan to stop the army of the sun from reaching the fort – a spell to infuse the surrounding woods with wild energy so the other army wouldn't come after them.

Coltyn went out and placed himself between to two armies. Two years of warfare had led to this desperate measure. Taking a deep steadying breath, he centered himself and summoned all the available dark energy into his body. He created a dark mass between his hooves that, thanks to his immortality, didn't kill him outright and let the darkness reach out and engulf the entire woods. The dark tendrils sunk into every tree, creature and the very earth itself. After the darkness receded Coltyn didn't return to camp; he was completely drained of power and passed out. Coltyn was taken prisoner by the Royal Guard’s top generals, who braved the new forest to find the source of the magic. Coltyn had stopped the Royal Guard march, but he needed to be rescued. That was the beginning of the end.

*****

Coltyn’s eyes groggily opened as his head throbbed from the backlash of his spell. Coltyn attempted to move his limbs but they refused to move. Shaking his head to clear his vision, Coltyn looked around and came to the horrid discovery that he was bound to a cold stone wall. A chill ran down his spine. Helpless, Coltyn tried to focus enough to cast any magic but no power was in him.

“That must have drained me more than I thought,” Coltyn muttered under his breath as his purple mane fell over his face.

Shortly after regaining consciousness the sound of the door being unlocked got his attention. Coltyn glanced up as two of the Royal Guards walked in carrying a chest and a brazier on top of which they set a covered steel bucket. The guards didn’t even glance at Coltyn as they set up. Coltyn swallowed hard as he knew what was coming next, he was about to be pumped for information by any means necessary it looked like.

The two guards after setting up the small work area left the cell and Coltyn’s jaw dropped as Celestia walked in. Celestia walked over to the chest and began to remove her vestments as she opened the chest.

“So what do I owe the honor, tyrant?” Coltyn scoffed.

“Well the worm finally wakes. I have been ever so patient,” Celestia drawled, sadistically.

“How long have I been here?”

“Almost a week, I was starting to think that you weren’t going to wake up. I want to know why you started this foolish war and what Nightmare Moon is planning and the location of my sister,” Celestia explained, as she backhooved Coltyn.

“That’s nice,” Coltyn said, spitting out a small bit of blood, “but I am not feeling like a canary so you can just leave now.”

“Oh no, I want those answers and you will tell me no matter how long we have to be here,” Celestia said pulling a riding crop from the chest.

Coltyn felt his heart jump to his throat as he swallowed hard. He prepared himself for what was coming but as the crop landed hard on his flank the snap echoed through the cell. Coltyn gritted his teeth as the shockwave of pain ran up his spine. Celestia just smiled sadistically as she pulled back and swung the crop again, hitting in the same place. Coltyn let out a small yelp as the pain screamed through him.

“Tell me what you are planning,” Celestia demanded, looking Coltyn in the eyes.

“None of your business,” Coltyn retorted, spitting in her face.

Celestia backed a step away as she levitated a cloth to her and wiped the spittle from her face and tied the cloth around Coltyn’s muzzle. Celestia retrieved a flogger from the chest and positioned the flogger by Coltyn’s flank and the crop by his face and then began to beat him furiously with both implements. Coltyn bucked, twisted, and turned to try and avoid the onslaught but his restraints held tight. His muffled cries of pain echoed of the walls, tears began to flow as the flogger and crop beat his face and flank. The assault stopped as the fur around his face and flank were matted with blood, bruises, and welts. Celestia pulled the cloth off his muzzle as Coltyn coughed up spit and blood as he gasped for air.

“What are you planning?” Celestia demanded.

“I won’t tell you anything,” Coltyn coughed out weakly from behind his drooping mane.

Celestia huffed as she set the crop and flogger down and lifted a short sharp blade out of the chest. Celestia’s face turned a wicked smile as she placed the blade next to his eye and slowly drew it down his face, his blood flowing from the wound. Coltyn winced again as the water in his eyes began to flow down his cheek and into the wound causing it to sting.

“The sooner you talk the sooner this ends,” Celestia whispered in Coltyn’s ear as she lifted the blade from his skin.

“You’re a fool to think I would break after a little beating like that,” Coltyn huffed as he regained his breath.

“Have it your way,” Celestia said, pulling out a grater and a chunk of rock salt.

Coltyn tried to steady himself but shrieked in agony nonetheless as Celestia cruelly cut a long, shallow gash into his hide and grated salt into the wound. The deafening screams rang off the walls as Celestia continued to cut him and salt the wounds, six on each limb, ten on his body, and three on his face. Coltyn was coated in blood as his body shook from the overwhelming pain. Celestia let him catch his breath for a second, and then she used magic to tear all the wounds open wider. Staring at him in cruel satisfaction as Coltyn’s cries of pain reverberated off the walls, tears of pain running down his face like rivers before he passed out.

***

Coltyn woke up an hour later to the familiar smell of hot steel but his hopes of seeing his friend Golden Blade faded as his eyes gazed through his drooping mane once again on the cell he was chained in. Coltyn’s eyes scanned for the source of the smell and his panicking gaze fastened on Celestia, who was rolling a branding iron in the soft glow of burning coal.

Celestia turned to Coltyn, “Have a nice nap, worm?” she sneered, levitating the glowing piece of steel between her and Coltyn.

“No, you insane maniac,” Coltyn growled as she approached him.

“That’s too bad because I want to know so much and you have such a strong will. I will enjoy destroying it.” Celestia lowered the branding iron which looked similar to her cutie mark to a point just in front of Coltyn’s chest. “Tell me what I want to know.”

Coltyn just hung there, stubbornly silent as he could feel the heat radiate from the iron. After a few minutes of silence Celestia drew the iron away as Coltyn breathed again she thrust it onto his chest. His fur melted away as the iron seared his flesh. His back bowed and his body shook as the smell of his burning flesh curled into his nose, and torrents of pain wracked his body.

Celestia pulled the Iron away as she looked upon the perfect sear of her cutie mark on Coltyn’s chest. She placed the iron back into the hot bucket and turned to Coltyn.

“Why do you keep fighting? All you’re doing is prolonging your own agony,” Celestia probed at Coltyn, lifting his chin to look at her.

“Because you’re a monster, and a tyrant who has abused her power,” Coltyn gasped, catching his breath.

Enraged Celestia picked up two more irons and slammed them onto Coltyn’s flanks. Coltyn screamed as the glowing irons melted his flesh and disfigured his cutie mark, his body shaking from the overload of pain.

“You will learn not to call me a tyrant,” Celestia growled as Coltyn lost consciousness.

***

Coltyn lethargically opened his eyes again to see the cell he hung in empty. He had no idea of time since there were no windows in his cell. He hadn’t eaten anything since his captivity. Coltyn started to look around for guards and tried to focus on his magic but he was still drugged and the hunger made his horn useless. Coltyn snorted in frustration as the sound of his cell opening perked his ears.

Ponies that set up banquets walked in carrying a long, low table covered in a white cloth and a fine silk pillow. Then like a parade waiters came in carrying all kinds of assorted foods. Coltyn’s mouth watered as the sight and smell of the food which caused his stomach to growl. Coltyn’s mind knew this was just another torture but his body cried for sustenance since he couldn’t remember the last time he ate.
The ponies left as they put the finishing touches on the meal as Celestia walked in. She turned her head and with a small nod signaled everypony to leave the room.

“I have decided to be nice and let you enjoy a banquet with me but only after you tell me everything,” Celestia offered. “It would be a shame to let all this hot delicious food go to waste, now wouldn’t it?”

Coltyn didn’t respond; he just waited, his mind fighting his body. The body begged and pleaded to taste the food before him but his mind didn’t want to pay the price for the meal. Celestia could see the struggle and started twisting the knife.

“These are some truly magnificent apples,” Celestia commented, lifting one from a small basket and took a bite. “So juicy and delicious,” Celestia praised, waving the fruit in front of Coltyn.

Coltyn snapped his teeth at the fruit but Celestia pulled it back. Celestia walked over to the pillow across from Coltyn and sat down and slowly finished the apple. Coltyn reached for the food before him but it was just out of his reach.

“You must be hungry. It has been almost a week and a half since you came to visit,” Celestia jested. “So we shall make a deal, you tell me everything and share this delectable feast with me, or I will torture you and then eat it in front of you.”

Coltyn glared at Celestia with pure hate as she slowly ate at the banquet. Celestia enjoyed small portions from every plate, and then called her waiters to take everything away. Coltyn looked on, neighing under his breath as the food was taken away. The last of the food left and the table and pillow were removed before Celestia turned to Coltyn.

“Talk and I will summon them back,” Celestia demanded.

Coltyn turned his head to the side, stubbornly mute.

“Fine! Have it your way,” Celestia snorted as she locked him back in the cell alone and hungry.

***

For four days Coltyn took the physical and verbal abuse dished out by Celestia and had to watch her bring in a banquet of delicious food. Celestia ate and drank her fill in front of Coltyn, savoring every bite. Coltyn had to watch as the food was taken away. On the second day, the sight caused deep pains in his stomach.

On the fifth day, Coltyn woke to sudden shock of pain to his face. Looking up, Coltyn laid eyes on his tormentor and just let his head slump back down.

“Are you ready to talk?” Celestia said pulling out her torture tools.

Coltyn hung there, too weak from hunger to respond. Celestia just raised her whip and let it land across his chest as his blood flowed again. Coltyn hardly reacted to the pain but a scent caught his attention. The smell of food filled his nostrils and his body reacted.

“It seems that this is the best way to tempt you to talk,” Celestia said as she placed the food just out of Coltyn’s reach.

Coltyn pathetically reached for the food, whinnying softly as his stomach growled loudly.

“Talk and you can have this,” Celestia said, inching the plate closer to him.

“Fine, what do you want to know?” Coltyn whispered, tears rolling down his face.

“What are they planning? When will they launch a rescue for you?” Celestia asked.

Coltyn took a deep breath but couldn’t say a word before being interrupted.

“Princess!” one of the guards called as he ran down the hall. “Nightmare’s forces have breached the wall and are heading this way.”

Celestia nodded turning back to Coltyn, “I’ll leave that there and we’ll see if you change your mind when I get back.”

Celestia left the room abruptly. Coltyn ignored the precipitous exit, in favor of concentrating with all his might on raising the food to his mouth. Hours rolled by and eventually, Coltyn could feel the drugs that kept his magic suppressed starting to wear off. Desperate, he focused on the plate, generating a dark aura that pulled it close enough for him to finally eat. Coltyn ate slowly, even though his body wanted to consume the food as fast as possible – knowing that simply stuffing himself would make him sick and keep him from being able to aid in his rescue, or escape on his own. As Coltyn finished the meal, he felt his strength return, and set his mind to the next most pressing problem – gaining his freedom.

Coltyn concentrated as he worked his chains open with his magic. He didn’t trust his horn magic with a teleportation spell but blood magic just required a bit of focus and will power. He bit a small bit of flesh from his leg, just above his hoof, spitting it out and making a disgusted face at the horrible taste. Blood flowed from the wound as Coltyn made haste to create the teleportation circle.

*****

The fires started to blaze as a battalion headed by Fire, Golden and Nightmare launched a rescue attempt. The walls shook as the two armies destroyed each other. It was a bloodbath, with both armies suffering massive casualties. In the end, the field of battle was reduced to Nightmare Moon, Fire Mane and Golden Blade as they approached the castle to confront Celestia, who was flanked by two unicorn masters, barring their way.

"You dare defy me! I will give you one chance to end this," Celestia barked, imperiously.

"Never! You have become a tyrant and you have strayed from the path of good. I will not back down," Nightmare retorted.

"So be it," Celestia intoned.

"Fine," Nightmare snarled.

The two alicorns sprang at each other, the clash of their magic lit up the sky. Fire Mane and Golden Blade attacked the two unicorns. The unicorns had their hooves full keeping up with Golden Blade and Fire Mane's attacks. The battle raged and as the two sides regrouped, everypony beaten and bloody, Celestia summoned all her power and called the Elements of Harmony and blasted Nightmare.
As Nightmare was surrounded by rainbow light, and blasted to the moon, Golden Blade and Fire Mane were struck with fear. They leaped back as Celestia's horn glowed brilliant white, but the Princess’ magic overtook them, and the two of them were blasted away from Canterlot with such violent, furious force that nopony should have been able to survive. Nothing was heard from or about them after that.

Celestia stood in silence as she let sink in what had just transpired. She didn't break, but deep down something stirred. She had seen a fleeting image of her beloved sister, her eyes asking ‘why?’. Confused, Celestia headed back down to the dungeon.

***

Coltyn felt a sudden chill run down his spine, and tears fell from his eyes as he was overcome with despair, fearing the worst, “I have failed you, my friends, my princess…my lovely princess of the night,” he whispered in desolation, knowing somehow that he was utterly alone. Coltyn wished that he could die, but that was no longer an option. Knowing he didn't have much time, Coltyn finished drawing the teleportation circle as the door was unlocked. The circle of blood combined with his projected will to cause the circle to glow. Celestia stepped into the cell at that moment to see Coltyn be enveloped in crimson smoke, and then disappear. Celestia sighed, *I’ll have to track him down. I don’t need him starting another conflict,* she thought as she closed to door and returned to her chamber.

***

Coltyn appeared next to his cart deep in the forest, where he collapsed on the ground.

Eventually Coltyn stirred, still a mess from his captivity. As he slowly regained consciousness, he looked up to see some of the nurse ponies looking over him. "How long have I been out?" Coltyn asked, still in a daze.

"Six days, we were getting worried. We’re relieved that you’re recovering, General," one of the nurses explained.

"What happened while I was out? Where are the other generals… where is Nightmare Moon?” Coltyn asked, trying to fill in the blanks.

One of the ponies from the army saluted and reported, “The Royal Guards came but we didn’t put up a fight, because with no leaders we didn’t want to do anything wrong. They just looked around for you, I think, but we kept you hidden. However, the foal of Nightmare disappeared the night of the rescue mission. We don’t know where she went and nopony has seen her since.”

“What!?” Coltyn bellowed, his nostrils flaring in fury.

Everypony in the room stepped back from the enraged stallion.

“Who was supposed to be guarding her?” Coltyn demanded.

A nervous pony stepped forward, “I…I was…Sir.”

“So how did foalnappers manage to abduct the young princess?” Coltyn interrogated the pony.

“I left my post only for a minute. I swear I didn’t mean to let this happen,” the pony groveled, pleadingly.

Coltyn raised his hoof but the lingering pain caused him to pause, “Get out of my sight.”

The pony took the hint and quickly galloped out of the tent and continued to run.

“Who is left?” Coltyn asked another warrior in the tent.

“Only a small group – the better part of the army went to rescue you, but none returned, sir,” the pony replied.

“Gather the remaining force,” Coltyn ordered as he climbed out of bed.

"As you wish, General," the pony replied hurrying out.

The nurses watched in awe as, with a great concentration, all his wounds healed without any visible scars as the bandages fell to the floor. Coltyn headed out of the tent and trotted up to overlook the remains of the army.

A look of disappointment crossed his face as only a score of ponies stood before him. In that moment Coltyn realized that full scale war was not the answer. Coltyn wanted revenge, for his friends, princess, and foal. But he intended to find a way that didn’t involve other ponies – just him and Celestia. *Better for them to live then to send them to a meaningless death,* Coltyn thought as he sighed.

"Nightmare Moon has been defeated and my two friends and your generals have fallen. We can no longer keep up the fight. I have failed all of you. I ask you to go back and quietly live out your lives, but never forget the hell of a fight we put up. We may not be victorious but if we are fortunate, this war may have caused a change in Celestia. Please go and live out your lives," Coltyn lowered his head in disgrace as he stepped down.

The remnants of Nightmare’s army were confused and chattered amongst themselves as Coltyn harnessed himself to his cart. Coltyn pulled his cart into a magic portal of darkness and disappeared leaving the confused ponies to figure out what to do without him because they didn’t need to know what happened while he was imprisoned.

Coltyn had gone as far away as he could and just kept walking. He had failed his companions and his princess and lost his foal. He needed to disappear and figure out what to do next. Coltyn paused just long enough to scry for his missing foal. In that moment, relief washed over him as he saw Fire Mane and Golden Blade taking care of his precious filly.

“They will raise her well,” Coltyn muttered as he looked at his daughter, his heart heavy with regret, but the mind-numbing fear over the filly’s fate receding. “Good-bye, my little Midnight Eclipse.”

Coltyn went into seclusion and hid from the guards Celestia sent out to look for him. Many years passed, and eventually the hunt for him slowed and then Coltyn, the last of the Nightmare Generals, finally fell into myth and was soon forgotten… which was exactly what he wanted. Once nopony was looking for him he could move around and try to find a way to fit back in with society and even find a way to get his revenge.

*****

Coltyn watched with suspicion and some disbelief as Celestia became a better ruler. He questioned whether the change was brought about because of having banished her sister, or some other reason. 'Oh well, at least this is a change for the best.' Coltyn thought as he traveled and rebuilt his store of potions. Coltyn, after many tries, found a way to hide his cutie mark, using a ritual that allowed him to duplicate anypony else’s mark, and develop their talent as well.

Once he mastered the spell to take on new talents and hide his cutie mark, Coltyn slid through the centuries, moving and taking on new marks and jobs to avoid attracting notice. In the process, Coltyn gained many talents and became a true jack of all trades.

Nearly a thousand years had passed when word of Celestia’s pregnancy reached him in his self-imposed exile. Curious, Coltyn returned to Canterlot, though he doubled the protective magic he’d cast upon himself to hide his identity. He watched as the white alicorn grew heavy with burgeoning life, and he’d been around enough gravid mares to realize she was carrying twins, even though she never announced that fact to her subjects.

When, three days after Hearth’s Warming Eve, the Princess presented her single filly foal, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, he knew there was something terribly wrong. The Princess’ personal guard had been coming and going from the castle, an air of desperate urgency about them, and he followed unobtrusively when he next spotted a patrol leaving. When he heard them talking about the foalnapped filly, his blood ran cold, and he knew he had to try to find that foal. She could be the key to his victory over Celestia, but more important was the fact that he needed to be sure that the infant was safe. He remembered well the terror he’d felt when his own beloved foal had been taken, before he’d discovered that she was safely in the care of his two friends, and no matter his own feelings about the Princess herself, he couldn’t allow an innocent to be hurt if it was within his power to stop.

Retreating to the desecrated forest he’d created for his Princess of the Night, he began scrying, using his most powerful seeking magic to suss out the location of the infant filly, and the identities of her foalnappers. It took only hours before he found them, and without delay, he cast a teleportation circle, and transported himself and his cart to their location. The foalnappers had retreated all the way to Manehatten, and he had no difficulty finding them in the rundown stable where they’d taken refuge. What he discovered, however, rocked him back on his hooves.

Inside the shadowy stable, he found a black coated alicorn with a silver and blue mane, and a golden coated pegasus with a mane bearing every imaginable shade of red and orange. The pegasus he’d never seen before, but the alicorn… it couldn’t be!

“Eclipse!” he gasped.

The alicorn looked up at him, and her eyes widened so much that the whites could be seen all the way around the sclera. “Father?”

Coltyn’s eyes fell on the shivering form of the foal on the floor between the unknown pegasus and his daughter, and his own eyes widened, in appalled shock. “What have you done?” Then, he watched as the ugliest expression of hatred he’d ever seen distorted his daughter’s features into a grotesque rictus.

“Vengeance, Father. For over nine-hundred and fifty years I’ve waited, guiding and honing the flame of justice in those who remained faithful to Mother, and now, finally, we have struck a blow for vengeance against that wretched Princess, for banishing Mother and nearly killing all of her friends. After you skulked off like a coward, someone had to take up the torch.”

The scorn in her voice stung him, but the atrocity his eyes were beholding eclipsed the filial disdain almost completely. Lying on the floor, shivering in terror, and bleeding from the ragged stump where her horn had been stomped off, was the pale blue form of Celestia’s stolen foal. The tiny filly’s eyes were glazed and feverish with pain, and she was giving out pitiful little squeals that were almost inaudible. She would no doubt die soon if she wasn’t given proper care.

Fury overcame Coltyn, and he lowered his horn, his vision hazing red as he let his magic build and then blast the two foalnapping ponies away from the suffering baby. He reached out with his magic, lifting the weakened little pony into his saddlebag, and then whirled and galloped back to his cart, almost unconsciously teleporting them back to Nightmare Moon’s old base of operations, deep inside the forest.

While he had only limited medical knowledge, he spent the next several days doing everything he could to heal the little alicorn foal, though he soon realized there was nothing he could do for her broken horn, but seal the wound in the effort to keep her from bleeding out all of her magic along with her lifesblood. The spell to protect her magic left a star shaped scar at the base of the horn stub, and he wept for the infant, a crushing burden of guilt bearing down on him as he finally saw the ultimate result of his part in the war between the two Princesses.

When he’d done all he could, he returned the maimed foal to her mother, and went into seclusion once more, this time to study the more esoteric forms of healing magic, vowing not to return to Canterlot until he could restore her horn, and her magic to her, and perhaps, make amends for his past sins.