Celestia's mind reeled her back into reality to the hell she was still in. Just as before, Nightmare Moon now stood before her once again.

"Your sister was too desperate to call for your help for fear of banishment from you," Nightmare Moon scoffed, "And now she is mine."

Celestia was angry and hurt at the same time. If she would have known her sister was going through what she just saw, she would never have banished her again. Didn't Luna understand how much it hurt her the first time she had to banish her? Despite all the ponies she killed and all the destruction she had caused thousands of years ago, Celstia never wanted to banish her to the moon, but it was her only alternative compared to the latter: killing her. She would have helped her and find a way to get rid of the haunting voice in her head, but now Nightmare Moon was it's own entity, and it owned everything that was Luna.

"You had drove her mad and made her do all this!" Celestia's anger was slowly turning into fury. Nightmare Moon beamed at her, seemingly proud to see Celestia now getting upset.

"Her will is bound to me, and whatever I want, she wants..." Nightmare's slits grew wider as she swung her head back and laughed, "And what she wants is to rule Equestria!"

Celestia's horn glowed a bright yellow, and she let her fury at Nightmare Moon take hold.

"Then I will break your will!"

Celestia fired a bolt covered in fire and shot it towards the Nightmare. She quickly jumped tot he side to dodge Celestia's attack, and the bolt hit the wall behind her, blowing a hole right through it.

"What is it Celestia, angry that your sister is now my puppet? That she didn't trust you with her problems?" Nightmare was enjoying taunting the once calm princess. It was satisfying to see the ever calm and disciplined Celestia lose her temper.

Celestia's stomach burned. Her blood rushed through her body. Her sister was now a slave to Nightmare's will, and she could have stopped it. If she wouldn't have let her duties come before everything, maybe she could have prevented this. She could have prevented a lot of things...just only more regrets. The only thing she knew she wouldn't regret though, was destroying Nightmare Moon once an for all and freeing her sister from Nightmare's bondage.

"Enough! I will free Luna from you, and you will pay for all the ponies you have killed, all the pain you had caused, and all the scars you have left on ones that don't deserve any of this!"

Nightmare looked at her with a manical happiness in her eyes.

"You mean all the blood that Luna had spilled."

"No! She didn't do any of this! You did!" Celestia summoned her magic once again. She was not going to stand hear and listen to Nightmare's taunts of her sister. A bright yellow disc appearead and she launched it to Nightmare, hoping that it would end her, and she could end this hell for her and everyone else.

Nightmare just stood there watching the disk come right towards her, threatening to slice her in two. She didn't make any attempt to move as the hurling disc of light came closer every second. It was mere inches from her until it suddenly froze in front of her.

"It's time that you learned some new tricks Celestia. You seem to forget that I have been with you for a very long time now. I have seen what you can do, and this is quite pathetic."

The once speeding disc that was now frozen in front of her dissolved as a black aura surrounded it and crushed it.

"I'm sure you can do better," she said shaking her head as if she was dissapointed in Celestia.

Celestia knew that she was even lucky that she was still able to perform spells, but she was already past her limit. Her moment of fury towards Nightmare Moon was being overcome by weakness again due to her almost expending all her magic trying to save Twilight. It seemed Nightmare Moon took notice of her coming weakness as her face changed to one of confusion, but then to a realization.

"I can't believe this...You must have....HA! Is it true Celestia? Had you used all your magic on that measely student of yours?"

Celestia felt exhaustion creeping up on her once again, but she refused to fall down. She had to continue standing. She had to show Nightmare that she would not fall, and she will not have her ambitions come to fruition. She couldn't answer the now amused Nightmare, as her breathing was becoming erratic.

Nightmare laughed as she saw the weak Celestia trying to just keep standing. She didn't understand why any being as powerful as Celestia would waste any type of power on something so...weak.

"This is amusing Celestia, I must admit, to use such power to save one life."

Celestia's legs were slightly trembling out of her weakness. She had to keep standing...

"This is just one of the many reason why you are not fit to rule. You are willing to sacrifice too much just to save one. I on the other hand, will sacrifice if it saves many, even if it means letting other ponies to die..."

Celestia forced her way through her exhaustion and retorted,"You don't want to save any pony. You only want power. Your willing to kill to gain it, and you will drown Equestria in blood."

Nightmare Moon unfurled her wings and in seconds flew straight in front of Celestia's face. a bright black flash popped form Nightmare's long horn and sent Celestia rolling through the ground.

"If it drowns in blood so be it. Blood will save it from it's enemies."

Celestia felt the force of her magic and it violently pushed her back sending her rolling against the ground. She rolled almost three different times as he felt her body smash against the floor. Nightmare's magic was much stronger than Luna's. She had sent her back with only a shock of magic. Celestia laid on the ground as her body succumbed to it's exhaustion, and Nightmare Moon walked towards her with an evil gleam in her eyes.

"I was hoping you would be in top shape when we fought Celestia. How am I supposed to kill you when your not at your best?"

Celestia looked up at her in anger, "Then why don't you kill me now? Or are you too weak to do it?" Nightmare swung her hoof against Celestia's white cheek but she wouldn't give her the satisfaction hearing her cry of pain.

"You call me weak? While you lay at my hooves? I have my servants surrounding the castle and taking Canterlot itself. I have put ten years of planning into this and it's working just swimmingly. Yet you call me weak? We will see who is weak," she said in a challenging tone. Her black horn lit up with its eerie black aura once again. Celestia kept her eyes on her and she was not going to look away. If she was going to kill her now, then she was going to die with dignity and deifiance. Cowards looked away, but not her.

A black ray shot into Celestia side, but it was not tearing at her flesh or causing any harm, but rejuvenating her. She was feeling her weakness waning away as she felt a new found strength rise in her. Nightmare ceased the the black ray, and walked away from Celestia as she went to one of the broken stained windows. Celestia got up, and felt normal once again, but why would she do that, and what exactly had she done her?

"What have you done to me?"

Celestia knew that her magic had caused her to regain her strength, but this was Nightmare Moon's magic. There had to be some trick to it, she wouldn't willingly put Celestia back up to normal, possibly risking her own demise. Why didn't she just kill her?

Nightmare continued looking out the window watching her guards take Canterlot as they surrounded every building and gate.

"If I'm going to kill you, I want to kill you while you are at full strength. Even I have standards Celestia. It will be much more enjoyable when I defeat you and make you suffer. I will earn your crown, and our fight will determine who is really weak, so I have restored your magic that you foolishly wasted on the unicorn. Do not worry," she turned to Celestia and smirked,"There is no trick to be seen here."

Celestia looked over her body and saw her golden magic flowing back up to speed, and there was no taint within it, so Nightmare was telling the truth. That also meant that if Nightmare was that confident in her abilities that she could fight her at full strength, then Celestia had to be on her guard.

"Then what are you waiting for? I have a sister to regain, and a kingdom to save from you..."

Nightmare eyes became wider in excitement and eagerness.

"Very good! Now we can finally have a real fight, but there is something I rather do first before we begin trying to slice each other's heads off. This is not a battlefiled fit for beings such as ourselves. We will fight somewhere will it have more....meaning."

Celestia didn't know what she had meant by with more meaning, but if it meant that she would be out of Canterlot, she would take it. She hadn't forgot about Twilight and Pinkie, and if they weren't gone already, then at least Nightmare Moon would be gone so she wouldn't pursue them. She only nodded at her in agreement.

"Very well then." Her black horn lit up and in an instant, Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon vanished from the destroyed hall, where only the echos of chaos and screams earlier remained.

---------------------------------------

Two stallions stood covered in shining blood among bodies of Lunar guards. Some were sliced open as their organs spilled out of them, while others had limbs missing, or some type of gash in their bodies.

Shining Armor and General Blaze both were breathing hard not from exhaustion, but from the rush of battle. This was not new for Blaze, but Shining Armor's heart was pumping through him and pure adrenaline pushed through his veins. He didn't enjoy the blood he had gotten all over him, but only thoughts of Twilight made him disregard it.

"So it looks like I got here first," Blaze said as he sheathed his blade and smiled. He had blood all over his face and armor, but it didn't phase him. Shining Armor's blade dissapeared as he ceased his magic to talk.

"It seems that way dosen't it? We need to get to the gardens and meet Twilight and Pinkie there."

They both entered the castle leaving a trail of their bloody hoof prints on the floor. They heard each other's hard breaths but not one was going to stop. Blaze spoke through his hard breathing.

"You said Pinkie is with your sister? Isn't she the one that killed her friends?"

Shining armor didn't really want to discuss Pinkie. He still had no clue why Pinkie was here in the first place, and Celestia didn't really give him an explanation for it, but considering the circumstances, he understood. He was a soldier, and a soldier followed orders, no questions asked, but there were many questions he wanted to ask her. He would have to wait until he saw her again, for now, he had to reach Twilight and Pinkie.

"Yes, and don't ask me how or why, just that I am supposed to get them out of here."

They ran past all the portraits that hung on both sides of the hall they ran through. Famous unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies had their portraits for all to see, along with Celestia and Luna's. Only if they could see that the world they knew was slowly descending into complete madness.

They both cut a quick left turn as they entered a new hall that was paved with windows on both sides, and the shining sun that should have been pouring into it would not because of all the Lunar pegasi that covered the sky.

"Told by who Shining? Celestia?"

Shining was really hoping that question wouldn't be asked, but it seemed inevitable, and he knew he was going to sound insane once he told him, but he would give him an answer while they continued to make their way to the gardens.

"Yes, Celestia told me in my head. It sounds crazy, but it was her, and she told me I had to get them."

Blaze turned his head with a confused look, as expected.

"Wow, thats some crazy shit Shining. I would call it horseshit if it wasn't coming from you."

Shining didn't know if that was a compliment or not, but he kept going.

"We got some more coming!"

Shining heard Blazes' warning and wasn't even paying attention to the windows until Lunar pegasi started crashing through the windows. They held their blades in their mouths, ready to stop the duo. Shining looked to Blaze who had also stopped but was looking behind them. Unicorns and earth ponies were coming in behind them. They were going to be trapped by both sides soon if they didn't do anything. The guards that must have been guarding the rest of the castle must have caught on that they were here.

"Shining, I think it's time to go!"

Shining Armor summoned his blade once again and called out to Blaze.

"Then we have to keep moving before we get boxed in!" Both Blaze and Shining ran towards the pegasi blocking their way. They didn't have time to try and kill them, they just had to make it to the gardens. Shining and Blaze charged towards the pegasi to make their way through. Blaze jumped into the air and spread his wings to fly over them.

"Shining! Just run through them, I can cover you from here!"

Shining nodded. He entered the group of pegasi as they swung their blades to slice him, but Blaze had him covered. He thrust his sword between the incoming slashes that were going to come down on the captain. A blade was swung to his side, but Shining blocked it with his ownn and sliced the attackers throat as he continued running. Blaze flew close over him, making sure none of the pegasi got the jump on the captain. One pegasus smashed through another window and caught Shining off guard.

"Shining, watch out!" Blaze yelled as the pegasi and other Lunar guards chased after them, but it would come too late. The pegasus' blade cut across Shining's side as he ran past him, and he felt a burning sting through his side. He felt the burn of his wound, but something caused him to turn around to face his attacker that was running after him. Adrenaline ran through him feeling the stinging of the cut. He threw his sword straight at the black eyed pegasus and the blade sliced right through it's head. He watched as the blade tore through his dark flesh and blood came sprouting out as its's nerves and muscle were sperated from its body and his sword came flying right back to him as he grasped it with his magic.

"No! We don't have time for this! We have to go! They are right behind us!" Blaze descended next to Shining as he tried to snap him out of his blood lust. Shining heard Blaze and turned to continue running, but his side was making hard to run. He looked at his wound and saw it wasn't real deep, but it definitely had tore into his flesh, and was making it difficult to now breath as blood seeped out of it covering his one side with blood. Blaze noticed how slow he was going and turned to help him. He saw the cut and knew it wasn't fatal but it was enough to hurt.

"Are you okay?!"

Shining nodded and looked forward to see Lunar guards running after them. If they caught up to them, then they were done, and Twilight was finished.

"You have to keep pushing! If they get to us, we're dead!"

Shining and Blaze began to run again as the chasing guards had gotten closer due to his injury. Ther were going to catch up to them unless they did something quick. Shining turned and jumped as he summoned his magic and formed a wall of magic to slow them down. It appeared to their pursurers and some ran right into it, smashing their faces against it. Blaze halted to see what Shining had done and noticed the wall.

"Good job! That will hold them for a few, but we need to get out of this hall and get to the gardens."

Shining turned to Blaze and now was halfway running and limping at the same time.

"That's not going to hold them forev-" Something caught Shining's eye. He looked towards one of the windows to his side and noticed pegasi flying above them, but they were gathering near the roof of the hall they were in.

" We gotta go Shining, that wall won't hold them long," Blaze stated as the halted group of guards smashed their bodies against the magical barrier that was keeping them fromm their two targets.

Shining didn't pay attention as he saw more and more pegasi gathering above the roof of the hall. Then it dawned on him. His eyes looked up to the ceiling and he knew exactly what they were going to do.

"Hey! C'mon! LEt's go, those guys are gonna break that wall any minute!"

Blaze was trying to snap him out of whatever he was doing, but noticed the fear in the capitain's eyes and how he was looking towards the ceiling.

"What are you-"

The ceiling made a loud thundering sound above them and small pebbles of stone fell to the floor. Blaze now looked up to the ceiling and it made the same noise again.

"Blaze..."

"Yeah....?"

"Run."

Blaze looked over towards Shining as the captain looked back at him. The ceiling made the same noise a third time and their pursurers were breaking the wall that Shining had put up moments ago.

"What?! What's going on?!"

Shining saw the ceiling beginning to crack. They had to go.

"Run! Run now!" (Begin Music)

They both took off on his command. Shining had forgot completely about the pain in his side as he knew what was going to happen. AS soon as they started running the roof began to collapse behind them as they heard the stone come down unto the floor, and even heard the smashing of certain bodies underneath the blocks of stone that fell.

"Holy shit!" was all the general could say as they ran. Boulders of rock and rubble began falling in front of them. They both turned into a different hall but the pegasi must have been following them as they now samshed the roof above them as they previously had done. They both saw the entrance to the gardens in front of them.

"We're almost there!" Shining Armor called out. He was almost to his sister. The roof collapsing behind them was catching up to them, threatening to smash their bodies into a bloody mess of organs and bones. Shining turned to see how close they were to a painful death, and saw pegasi that were smashing the roof earlier were now flying in through the absent roof behind them.

"We got pegasi after us!"

Blaze turned as he ran and saw them too.

"Just keep running were almost there!"

The roof ceased to crumble but now pegasi were flying in swarms through the broken roof and flying towards them. Shining pushed himself to run as the burning pain in his side came back. Blaze made it to the red door that led out to the gardens, and was motioning Shining to hurry up. The captain put all his strength into one final stretch and made it to the door and pushed it open as the pegasi flew after them. Green lush grass and trees surrounded him, but he looked back toward the door, expecting Blaze to come out after him, but he wasn't there. He turned around to go back and find Blaze but he saw the orange pegasus still standing inside the door as the swarm of Lunar pegasi was coming toward him. Blaze turned toward Shining and smiled at him. (END Music)

"I suggest you put a protective barrier over the garden so no pegasi get to you guys because I won't be able to hold these guys off forever but it will buy you some time to get it up."

Shining's eyes went wide realizing that Blaze was going to try and fight them.

"Blaze! What are you talking about?! We have to get out of here. You can't fight them all! Let's go!"

Blaze shook his head at him and began to close the door.

"No! Blaze!"

Shining ran back towards the door to stop him. Blaze was his general, but he was also his friend, his brother in arms, and he didn't want to see anymore ponies die.

"Blaze! BLAZE!"

Shining Armor ran but he wouldn't make it. Blaze held his smile at him, and closed the door, sealing his fate. His friend and brother was now at the mercy of Luna's guards, and Shining knew there was no mercy to be had. He called out one last time, but he knew it was out of pain in his heart than hoping he would hear him.

General Blaze would be no more...

It was only Shining Armor now, and he had only only had one chance to save his sister...
------------------------------------------------

Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon appeared in a valley surrounded by trees. Celstia could feel the wet grass under her golden hooves, and saw the gray sky that poured its rain on them, and the lightning dancing around in the sky. The sensations of nature would not overtake her, as she knew exaclty where they were at.

"Bring's back memories, doesn't it Celestia?"

She knew what Nightmare meant. This was the very spot she had banished her sister to the moon, and where she saw the last of Nightmare Moon. It reminded her of all the pain in her heart when she had made her decsion to banish her, and the land only filled her with regret.

"The very place where you banished your dear sister," Nightmare looked around taking in the scenery, "And the very place will the powerful Princess Celestia will die. Ironic isn't it? We are back at the same place we started, but only this time, only one of us is going to come out alive."

Celstia knew that Nightmare Moon was enjoying all of this. She had control and she was dealing the cards, and Celestia could only take it, not having much of a choice. She had to defeat Nightmare Moon here, and make sure that she couldn't come back ever again.

"You will be the one left here this day Nightmare Moon. I will make sure here and today that you are erased from history, and gone from my sister!"

Celestia's body started to glow a light yellow color, and her eyes flashed to a bright yellow, just like the color of her Sun, and the very ground beneath her started to burn as she stood. Nightmare watched as Celestia readied herself and with the intention of ending her.

"We will see about that. One final battle Celestia. One final fight to decide who is more powerful and who Equestria needs!"

Nightmare Moon unfurled her black wings and rose into the air as her eyes flashed white and a black aura radiated from her body. They both looked at each other with hate in each other's eyes, one wanting to end the other.

The grass at Celestia hooves stared to catch on fire from the heat of her alicorn magic radiating from her body, and sparks of electricity ran around outside of her body, and steam rose as drops of rain pelted against her.

"We end this today Nightmare!"

A golden mist left Celestia eyes, and a gold plated chest plate appeared on her with the Sun emblazoned on it. Her horn lit up and summoned her blade against the darkness that was Nightmare. Her blade was covered in flames with a combination of the sun's light, while the handle was made out of pristine gold. The flaming blade appeared before her and she wielded it before her. The drope of pouring rain hit the blade, and only steam rose from it, not able to douse its's flames or light.

"I will have Luna back!"

Celestia will free her sister from this darkness that had hold over her, and Nightmare Moon would suffer just as she made innocent ponies suffer. She would make sure of it.

Lightning flashed throughout the sky as Nightmare hovered in the dark sky with her bright white eyes.

"Then take her back!"

That was all Celestia needed. She unfurled her white wings, and flew at her with her blade of flame and a gold trail following in her wake with hate in her heart. She was taking Luna back, and ending Nightmare Moon forever. Nightmare flew toawrds her without hesitation with a giant grin spread across her face. She would finally have her fight against the all powerful Celestia, and she will take her life from her and finally rule Equestria.

One final fight was all that was needed...

And all of Equestria depended on Celestia once again...or it would suffer for her failure.

(A/N. Alright guys, I been having some issues lately and been doubting my work here. Simple question: Are you, the reader, still enjoying the story thus far? Is there anything that I can do better? Is there anything you would like to be rid of or don't like? Feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.)