“Your minions serve you well, my apostle.” The Lady of the Stars complemented as she and Nightmare Moon passed through the upper stratosphere on their way back to Equestria. “They have already gained a foothold in the city.”

“Does she mean hoofhold?” The Usurper though as she looked down at her own talons. “Or talonhold? Whatever.”

“I knew they would make progress with the elements of surprise and numbers on their side.” Moon said factually. “But they can only get so far without my oversight.”

“Shall I drop you off in the thick of it then?” The Primordial asked. “Or would you prefer to drop in on your sunny sister?”

“Tempting but I suspect anything that goes near the castle will be blasted out of the sky.” The Usurper considered briefly. “It would be best to enter the fray and then storm the palace.”

“Very well then.” The stellar entity said as she slowed her descent. “I look forward to your eminent victory.”

“Wait, are you not joining us in battle?” This came as a surprise to the dark Alicorn.

“I truly wish I could but alas, while the sun may be obscured, my strength is sapped in the loathsome light of day.” The manifestation of the night sky lamented. “I will lend what strength I can muster but it will fall to you to take the city.”

“Interesting.” Moon thought. “I suppose divinity does not equate omnipotence.”

“Very well then.” She said with a slight edge of disappointment. “This should not take long.”

“I have complete confidence in you, my apostle.” The Lady of the Stars said calmly. “I will be observing from on high…and admiring.”

With that, the starry Primordial released her agent from her nocturnal embrace. The Alicorn was disoriented for a moment before she caught the wind beneath her hybrid wings and entered a hover. She looked around for her benefactor only to see a faint trail of starlight land on the snowcapped peak of Mount Canterhorn. A few moments later, the pseudo-twilight sky grew a few shades darker and a few twinkling stars barely discernable against the conflicted canvas winked into existence.

“It may not be a true night but it will do.” Moon thought as she felt her powers wax in the miniscule starlight.

Far below, she could see just how far her forces had progressed. The thestrals had broken through the main gatehouse and taken the market district of the city. The administration district had been heavily fortified by the Solar Guard defenders along with the palace beyond. Their battle lines met in the contested residential area in the center of the burning city while the air war raged on with no clear frontrunner.

“In retrospect, it may have been more prudent to rally my forces outside the city instead of rushing in like a horde.” The fallen Princess mentally criticized. “Still it could be worse. Now where am I needed?”

She zeroes in on the main thoroughfare through the city where a group of gilded defenders had dug in and stalled the thestral’s advance on the ground. A good aerial assault would dislodge them but with neither side having claimed air superiority, the Night Guard had limited options. With a toothy smile, the corrupted Princess folded her wings and dove on the encampment while batting aside anything that was unfortunate enough to cross her path. Her first victim was a unicorn in more ornate armor barking orders to his troops while taking potshots at any thestral that leaned out of cover. The officer did not notice his doom approaching until he heard a banshee-like screech coming from above.

“What is that-!” Was all he had time to say before Nightmare Moon slammed into his back and severed his spine.

The Equestrian Usurper rose to her full regal height and looked over the stunned Solar Guards with a malicious smile. She trotted forward slowly, letting the light dwellers bask in her imposing presence while stepping on the officer’s neck with a sickening crunch. This seemed to have the desired effect as the shock of her sudden entrance morphed into mortal terror.

“It’s Nightmare Moon!” A guardmare screamed.

“Kill her! Kill her now!” Another ordered in a panic.

The unicorns opened fire on the dark Alicorn while their earth pony and pegasi companions rushed her. Moon did not even flinch as the bolts of magic dissipated harmlessly against her empowered body. Her smile widened into a fanged grin.

“Ah ha ha ha!” The Night Mare cackled as she ignited her horn. “Foals!”

With but a mere tilt of her head from side to side, the Usurper fired off two blasts of lunar magic. Her attackers and their fortifications were obliterated in the blink of an eye leaving only smoldering craters and dismembered corpses. The guards who witnessed the sudden collapse of their center wisely fell back allowing the thestrals to finally gain ground.

“Mistress?” A voice called out from behind the Alicorn.

Moon turned to see Countess Dunwich and her ever faithful companion Sev standing behind her along with a contingent of Hollow Shades’ finest. The two elder thestrals had donned their old Night Guard armor conjuring up more memories of the ill-fated rebellion for their matron. The Lunar Princess regarded her steadfast servants with a friendly but still menacing smile.

“Yes, my loyal servants.” The midnight mare greeted. “I have returned.”

“You’ve…changed since we last saw you, your majesty.” Sev commented warily as his eyes were drawn to her wings and talons.

“All for the better.” The dark Alicorn assured him before she changed the subject. “Are my Night-Captains here?”

“Night-Captain Knight- I just realized how awkward that is to say –is leading as a rearguard.” Dunwich reported. “His sister is commanding our air forces.”

“Excellent.” Moon nodded in approval. “You all have done well to come this far.”

“The Umbrals were instrumental in that regard.” Sev said as he waved his cohorts forward. “They put the Solar Guard on the back hoof long enough for us to organize a proper offense.”

“Unfortunately, they rallied a lot quicker than we anticipated, mistress.” The Countess continued for her partner. “The Solar Guard were already mobilized before we attacked and there are reports from the air of Luminous Solarii fortifying the admin district and the palace itself.”

“Strange. It usually takes time for Celestia to summon her elites.” The corrupted Lunar Princess glanced upward at her benighted moon. “Was she warned before the siege began?”

“What of Celestia?” Moon asked. “Has she taken the field?”

“Not that we know of, your majesty.” Sev shook his head. “If she is even still in the city, she would be within the palace.”

“Leading from behind, dear sister?” The younger sibling shifted her gaze to the looming palace. “I am not surprised given your enfeebled condition.”

“If we must go to her, then so be it.” The Night Mare decided. “I trust there would be no objections if I assumed command.”

“None whatsoever, your magnificence.” Dunwich knelt in submission.

Moon closed her eyes and focused. Without the empty expanse of space between them, she could feel each of her minions’ thoughts much more vividly including the cold cessation whenever one of them was sent to her former lover’s realm. The Usurper’s thoughts briefly drifted toward the stallion she had left on her moon but she quickly refocused. With the conquest of Equestria at stake, she could not afford to be distracted.

“Rejoice my subjects. I am among you once more.” The Alicorn whispered into the thestral’s minds. “These sun worshippers are the only thing standing between us and our destiny. Let their screams herald the end of days; let their blood fuel the harbingers of Eternal Night!”

With their bodies invigorated and their resolved steeled by the malevolent influence of their Midnight Mistress, the bat-ponies redoubled their efforts. Their newfound ferocity combined with the spreading ill-news of Nightmare Moon’s return tipped the scales in the attacker’s favor as the Solar Guard were steadily pushed further back toward the palace. Moon herself lead the assault through the middle while Dunwich and Sev focused on consolidating their holdings. The Alicorn glanced skyward to see that the airspace above the city was still very much contested.

“Knight, heed me.” The dark Princess contacted one of her Night-Captains directly. “Your sister requires aid. Send whatever forces you can spare.”

“Yes, your majesty.” The commander of the rearguard sounded reluctant but Moon did not detect any disobedience.

A few moments later, several flights of Night Guards took to the air from the occupied financial district and joined their compatriots above. Moon hoped it would be enough to allow her forces to begin attacking entrenched positions from the air but it appeared whoever was commanding the defense had the same idea as flights of gold armored pegasi joined the fray.

“I wonder if it’s that Sentry colt Sparkle threw herself at.” Moon mused absently as she blew apart a foolhardy guard that tried to dive-bomb her.

Undeterred, the Alicorn of the Night pressed on until she came upon the gatehouse separating the two districts. The stout gates had been shut and barred in addition to dropping a steel portcullis. The tell-tale magical glow from unicorns posted at murder holes and anti-siege emplacements along the battlements told the Usurper that any attempt to break down the gates by her thestrals would be thwarted quickly.

“The royal engineers bragged that they could withstand everything from rioting plebs to invading demons.” The corrupted Princess thought as she ignited her horn. “Let’s see if they accounted for the wrath of a goddess.”

The few stars in the sky seemed to shine a bit brighter in approval as their Lady’s apostle channeled her power. The thestrals behind her wisely gave her some space while the Solar Guard began to fire desperately at her. Their magic was just as ineffective as before and by the time the anti-siege engines had her dialed in it was too late. Moon braced herself against the ground and fired a beam of lunar magic. The very ground buckled in the wake of the spell as it slammed into the gatehouse. The gates themselves were vaporized instantly while the stonework shattered like glass. The Solar Guards within had the relative fortune of dying instantly where their fellows were shredded by superheated debris or throw from the battlements to the unforgiving ground. The shock of the blast blew out every window in the vicinity and even knocked a few fliers, invader and defender alike, out of the sky.

“I always thought the engineers were overpaid.” Moon thought with a self-satisfied smirk as she composed herself.

“That shook the whole mountain.” Sev commented as he looked over the cloud of dust and rubble.

“Do you even need us here?” Dunwich asked in awe.

“The last time I tried to conquer Equestria alone it did not end well.” The Usurper answered candidly. “I would rather have you here and not need you than vice-versa.”

The thestrals nodded in understanding before they moved forward along with a contingent of Night Guards into the breach. They knew it would not take long for the Solar Guard to try to plug the gap and theyhad to take the ground before they did. The bat-ponies quickly galloped over the still smoldering rubble along with a cohort troops and through the dust cloud. The two expected to find scattered guards still reeling from the blast on the other side.

“Oh shit.” Sev froze when he instead came face to face with the ordered ranks of the Luminious Solarii with horns aglow with the power of the sun. “Back! GET BACK!”

The Night Guards scrambled to get out of the way of the impending fire. The Solarii commander extended a gold-shod hoof and pointed it at her fleeing foes like a judge sentencing the condemned.

“BURN THE HERETICS!” She commanded and her troops obeyed.

A blinding beam of concentrated sunlight shone out from the gilded soldiers and surged forward. Those caught in its path met a painful end as the purifying light melted their armor and seared the flesh from their bones. Sev could only push Dunwich out of harm’s way before he too was obliterated by their terrible wrath. The Countess could only watch as her long time subordinate vanished in a flash of light. His end along with so many others rang in Moon’s dark mind like a death knell. The Alicorn of the Night was forced to shield herself behind an ebon wing as the solar magic coursed down the thoroughfare as if mocking her own magic. By the time the assault ended, the streets were a glowing sterile white save for a patch of cobblestone directly behind the corrupted Princess. Bat-ponies not incinerated by the blast lay maimed and blinded in the side streets while their matron stood unharmed save for some singed feathers.

“Hmph. Clever bastards.” Moon thought as she reached out to her own elites. “Umbrals! Attend to these pests!”

“Finally!” Came the bloodthirsty response as the nocturnal stalkers abandoned whatever they were doing and focused on their sun-blessed counterparts.

Predatory snarls and the beating of leathery wings filled the air as the vampiric thestrals charged across the broken ground and dove in from the skies. With their foes coming at them from multiple directions, the Solarii were unable to combine their power into another super beam but instead sent a barrage of sun bolts to hinder their advance. The ground based bat-ponies were forced to cover while the airborne could only dodge. Even as many of their number were blow out of the sky, the Umbrals were not dissuaded from their single-minded goal of eliminating their longtime rivals. With a horrid shriek, they fell upon Celestia’s elite with talons and fangs. With the suppressive fire from the gilded guards halted, the rest of the thestrals eagerly joined the emergent melee. The discipline and fanatic conviction of the Solarii was tested against the terror and ruthless bloodlust of the Umbrals. The battle lines edged ever closer to the palace but the Night Guard paid for every step with their lives. Still, it was a sacrifice they were willing to make for the supremacy of their Lunar Mistress.

“It is only a matter of time now.” Moon thought as the explosions of vanquished Solarii sounded like the sweetest music to her ears. “I will have to replenish the Umbrals after this but there should be no shortage of supplicants, willing or otherwise.”

“LUNA!!!” The thunderous call rolled across the city and shook the very ground beneath the Usurper’s hooves.

There was a brief pause as both sides looked up at the palace and the source of the shout. A bright light shone out from the center of the battered superstructure. It was both a beacon to inspire the beleaguered Solarii and a challenge to the Night Mare who dare defy it.

“Challenge accepted.” The dark Alicorn thought as she took to the sky. “Dunwich! See to these fanatics’ demise. Celestia and I have a score to settle.”

“Put out her eyes for Sev, mistress.” The Countess replied darkly as she resumed command. “Stars watch over you.”

Moon could not help but smile at just how literal that was as she flew up to the palace. The fighting continued below her as she created a point of entry by blowing a new hole into the palace wall. The Princess of the Night folded her wings and shot through as if threading a needle. She found herself in the one of the many back halls near what was left of the grand ballroom. Navigating from memory, the Usurper made her way to the throne room where she suspected Celestia was waiting for her. Along the way, she encountered patrolling Solar Guards and a few Solarii which she dispatched with contemptible ease. She had not come this far to fall to some lowly minions of the sun.

“Can you feel your doom approaching, dear sister?” Nightmare Moon thought as she cleaved a hapless guard in to with a slash of lunar magic. “The Elements are gone, your walls and armies have fallen and your precious sycophants are dead. Nothing can save you now!”

---

The six heroines of Equestria along with ex-captain Sentry and a few officers of the Tyrian Guard all sat around the geo-map of Canterlot. They had been conjuring a plan to infiltrate the capital while the civil war between the sun and moon raged on. The group had reached the conclusion that the best chance of success was to avoid the frontlines all together but that still left the question of how to get into the palace itself and what to do once inside. It was in the middle of these deliberations that Sparkle’s draconic assistant walked in with refreshments and some note the Princess of Magic had requested.

“We could cause a distraction in the market district here.” One of the Tyrian officers offered as he indicated the area in question. “Maybe draw some of the Night Guard away and give you a chance to enter the palace through the front.”

“With all due respect captain, your troops would not last long enough to give the Element Bearers the time they need.” Sentry countered constructively. “Plus the Solar Guard probably have the primary and secondary entrances to the palace sealed tighter than a miser’s purse.”

“I agree with Sentry.” Sparkle concurred. “I won’t have you or anypony for that matter sacrifice themselves needlessly.”

“I understand.” The purple guard conceded as he took a drink from the young drake with a thankful nod. “Suggestion withdrawn.”

The council fell back into quiet mutterings as they worked to overcome the obstacles set before them. Spike continued to act the little waiter until he came to the lavender Alicorn. He passed the centainly hungry mare a sandwich along with the requested notes.

“I didn’t get the chance earlier but I’m glad your back, Twilight.” The assistant said genuinely. “When I heard that Nightmare Moon had come back I thought she had…”

“Don’t worry, Spike.” Sparkle stroked his head gently. “We’re here now safe and sound.”

“Oh, I wasn’t worried.” Spike tried to put on a brave face. “You all have beaten her before you can do it again.”

“If only it was so simple.” The Alicorn mentally sighed. “Hmm? What’s that?”

The scholarly Princess’s eyes wandered toward the food cart and the large ruby gemstone partially hidden behind some napkins. The juvenile dragon followed her gaze and smiled guiltily. Sparkle enveloped the gem in her magic and held it in front of her.

“Sneaking a little something extra, are we?” She scolded in a motherly tone. “Did you pull this off a wall?”

“I can’t help it.” Spike protested. “We’re living in a tree made out of crystal. I’m like a diamond dog in a gem mine.”

“These aren’t regular crystals; there is no telling what effect they could have-!” The Alicorn suddenly ceased her lecture as the gears in her head went into overdrive.

“Gem mine!” Sparkle’s eyes lit up with the spark of inspiration. “Spike, you’re a genius!”

“Huh?” The green and purple drake could only blink in confusion as the youngest Alicorn dropped the gem into his claws and turned her attention back to the geo-map.

“The gem mines under the mountain!” She said to the council while pointing just below the city. “There is a tunnel that leads to it in the city, right?”

“Yeah, near the hospital.” Sentry confirmed as a glow pinpointed the exact location appeared. “What? Are we going to tunnel in?”

“We don’t have to.” Sparkle said as she retrieved the relevant notes. “There should be an old passage that connects the dungeons to the mines. It was made in case the ponies in the palace needed subtle way out.”

“Cool, a secret passage.” Dash smirked. “Almost straight out of Daring Do.”

“Except we are not hunting any treasure.” The Alicorn thought. “I wish we were.”

“Just a moment, darling.” Rarity interjected. “Wouldn’t this mine and passage have caved in when Suneater emerged?”

“Not necessarily.” Sparkle said as she dug through her notes again until she found one detailing ancient mining standards and techniques. “These old mines were built to withstand everything from raiders to dragon attacks. Even if a dragon got inside, the supports were designed to withstand an incredible amount of stress so that the miners were not trapped inside.”

“This also meant that the dragon could turn the mine into a new lair relative easily but that was the trade off.” The academic Alicorn noted as an aside.

“In addition, the corps of engineers has been working around the clock to shore up the supports and clear the rubble.” A knowledgeable guard added. “It might be rough going but the way should be clear.”

“If not, I know my way around rocks.” Pinkie said brightly. “There should be no problem.”

“Once we’re inside at least.” Applejack said with a critical frown. “Getting’ to those mines might be an issue. Didn’t y’all say the fightin’ was going on right here in the middle part of the city?”

“Based on the latest reports, yes.” An officer answered after reviewing said reports. “But they also say that the Night Guards are slowly gaining ground. The battle lines might shift by the time you all get there.”

“I can’t believe we are banking on Moon winning to pull this off.” The lavender Alicorn mentally bemoaned.

“I don’t like it but we might have no choice but to take that risk.” Sparkle said begrudgingly. “At the very least, they will busy fighting each other to worry about us.”

“One can hope.” Sentry shared the Alicorn’s trepidations. “While we are working backwards through this, how are we to get to Canterlot itself?”

“The trains are out, obviously, and it would take way too long to go by hoof.” Rarity mused aloud. “Your balloon has served us well thus far, Twilight. Why not now?”

“A balloon is a pretty big target.” One of the guards said skeptically. “You could try to approach from the east where the mountain obscures the view but there is still the problem of patrols. You would have to be either stealthy or quick.”

“If Sentry and Fluttershy fly with me…” Dash looked to her demure friend to see if she was up to it who nodded. “…we could make it to at least the city limits within the hour.”

“Did you leave me out for a reason?” Sparkle asked whist trying not to sound incredulous.

“We are not exactly nimble strapped into that thing.” The speedster explained. “If we get spotted, we’ll need someponies who can shoot back; that would be you and Rares.”

“We might be overthinking this.” One of the other guards backpedaled as an idea hit him. “Couldn’t Princess Sparkle use an invisibility spell?”

“Uhh…” The Princess of Magic paused as all eyes fell on her. “I could but I’ve never used one on something as big as the balloon nor on multiple equines.”

“Also, the Solar Guards have been trained to detect invisibility as part of their anti-changeling procedures.” Sentry added. “It would only be a moment of time before somepony sees through it.”

“Ah, but they have been trained to detect Equestrian or bug magic.” A familiar yet strained voice clarified. “Nobody expects chaos magic!”

The council turned to see Discord emerge from his jar partially. The Spirit of Disharmony had managed to reform his head and upper torso including his mismatched arms but the rest of him remained a pile of ash. Pinkie and Fluttershy immediately rushed toward the trickster with smiles on their faces but hesitated when the draconequus waved his claw and paw in front of him to stop them. From his grimace, they could see that it was taking all his concentration to hold himself together.

“Are you sure you can help, Discord?” Fluttershy asked gently. “You really shouldn’t push yourself.”

“For you, my dear Fluttershy, I can manage.” Discord responded resolutely. “Besides, I mean to get back at old sun stroke any way I can.”

“She’ll be in for a big surprise, that’s for sure.” Pinkie agreed.

“Speaking of surprises, is there any we should watch out for once we are actually inside the palace?” Sparkle refocused the group with a pertinent question.

“I doubt the Solar Guards had time to rig up any traps.” Sentry said as he stared at the miniature version of the city. “But you will have to deal with Luminous Solarii. No doubt Celestia, or Daybreaker as she goes by now, will have them guarding the palace and its grounds.”

“She’s called in her elites already?” A Tyrian officer raised an eyebrow. “Did she know Nightmare Moon was coming?”

“No.” The ex-Solar Captain’s ears fell flat against his head. “She was going to send them to the Neo-Crystal City to make an example out of the secessionists even if that meant burning down the city.”

“If that’s true then Moon has impeccable timing.” Sparkle sighed as the depths her former teacher had fallen were revealed. “Wait, how did you know about all that?”

“I…I was there when she summoned the Solarii. She wanted me to lead them.” Sentry answered cagily. “Obviously I said no and went to find you.”

“Why do I think there’s more to it than that?” The Princess thought suspiciously but decided not to press for more while there were bigger things to worry about.

“And we are glad you did.” Dash shot her fellow pegasus a smile. “So we got a stealthy way into the city, a route to the palace and we have an idea what’s waiting for us. If there is nothing else, I say we get moving.”

“Agreed.” Sparkle nodded. “Captain? Please get the balloon ready for departure again.”

“Already on it, your highness.” The Tyrian officer saluted. “If it pleases you, we could have an escort accompany you and your friends. I know you want to be stealthy but I hate the idea of you going into a warzone without at least some troops.”

“Heh. Celestia said the same thing before we left for the Crystal Empire.” The Alicorn reminisced. “That feels like ages ago.”

“I appreciate the offer but the Tyrian Guard would be better off keeping Ponyville safe.” She shook her head in disagreement. “It is in the most immediate danger should any of Nightmare Moon or Daybreaker’s forces decide to come down the mountain.”

“As you command, your highness.” The officer saluted again before departing.

With the council concluded, the six friends and guards exited the chamber with Spike bringing the half-formed Discord along with a dustpan just in case. They returned to the landing platform where the now well-used balloon was already prepped and ready to go. The single harness had been replaced with a three-equine team version and the guards had thoughtfully provided a small stash of medical kits and other supplies. The three pegasi strapped themselves in while the rest climbed aboard.

“Now we are going to be flying pretty fast, Fluttershy.” Dash warned her yellow friend. “If it becomes too much, just let me or Sentry know.”

“I’ll try my best.” The kindly caretaker offered a small smile of confidence as she fluttered her wings.

“Looks like we’re ready to go.” Sparkle said once she was sure everypony was ready. “Discord, do your thing.”

“Don’t push yourself!” Pinkie called out. “We can always get Twilight to do it.”

“Bah, it’s just a little reflection and refraction of light.” The draconequus waved off her concern was her primed his talons and aimed at the balloon. “And…snap!”

With a dry cough, the Spirit of Disharmony’s arm turned to ash and collapsed into a pile. The heroines were about jump out to help him when they began to shimmer. Chaotic magic washed over the group and their transport as they unfocused and faded until they completely vanished from sight. A few of the present guards turned their attention to the one-armed prankster, suspicious as to whether he had not just disintegrated his former foes.

“Did it work?” Spike asked aloud as he swept up part of Discord and added him back to the jar.

“This is weird.” Applejack’s voice said from nowhere. “Ah can’t see my own hoof in front of my face.”

“Can any of you see us?” Sparkle asked.

“We can hear you but nothing beyond that.” A guard answered in her general direction.

“I knew Discord could do it!” Pinkie giggled excitedly. “That didn’t take too much out of you, did it?”

“Well I did not completely disintegrate so that’s a sign that I’m getting better.” The draconequus glanced down at his ashen stub. “Speaking of weakened magic, that won’t last forever so you’d better get a move on.”

“Will do.” The Princess said. “Stay safe everyone.”

“Good luck.” Those staying behind waved or saluted where they thought the balloon was.

After some awkwardness of coordinating the takeoff between the three pegasi, a plume of dust and the fading sound of wings flapping told the guards that their heroines had departed. The guards returned to their posts but Spike and by extension Discord remained on the platform a bit longer than the latter was comfortable with.

“Let’s get back inside, lizard boy.” The draconequus urged. “I’m worried what a stiff breeze might do to me.”

“Oh, sorry.” The young dragon said quickly as he walked back inside with the jar-bound prankster in his claws. “I was just…thinking about something.”

“Spike: dragon, royal lackey and part-time philosopher.” The semi-disembodied Discord teased lightly. “Please share some of your insights on this lowly soul.”

“I was thinking that so much has changed ever since the Crystal Empire was wiped out.” The drake said solemnly, ignoring the trickster’s barb. “Even if- I mean when –Twilight and her friends win, can we really go back to the way things were?”

“Short of our favorite Princess fiddling with time travel, I’d say no.” Discord answered with a flaky shrug. “Our favorite Princess can try to fit the pieces of the status-quo back together but it won’t be the same. If anything, she might just make it worse.”

“Those who fight to save might destroy and those who seek to change might preserve.” Spike recited. “I’m not sure who said that but it seems appropriate.”

While the young dragon and ancient draconequus discussed matters of philosophy, Sparkle and her friends had begun their approach to the besieged capital. The devastation had only gotten worse since they last looked upon Canterlot with the din of battle now scoring the dreadful scene. Their dread was compounded when a massive of explosion of lunar magic signaled that the thestrals had broken through the Solar Guards’ line of defense.

“That had Nightmare Moon written all over it.” Dash whispered less some wandering bat-pony heard the voices from nowhere. “Her dudes are probably knocking on the palace doors by now.”

“They’d be close.” Sentry whispered back. “The admin district was designed to be hell to fight through for invaders.”

“Conventional invaders.” Sparkle mentally clarified. “It did not do much good against changelings and I doubt the thestrals adhere to standard tactics.”

“It’s a good thing Moon appears to want to capture Canterlot rather than destroy it.” Rarity said quietly. “If she wanted to she could- oh goodness!”

The fashionista was cut off by a bright flash of solar magic followed by a thunderous boom. The blast paused the battle for a few brief moments before it resumed. The heroines watched as black armored Umbrals flew toward the source of blast.

“Was that Daybreaker one upping Moon?” Pinkie asked curiously.

“No. That was the Solarii. They did something similar at the Empire.” Sparkle answered knowingly. “They must have just plugged a breach.”

“Meaning a lot of ponies just died.” While she was invisible, her friends could tell by the quaver in her voice that Fluttershy was shaking. “Can we land yet?”

“We are just about to pass the first gatehouse.” Sentry whispered as the breached entrance to the city came into view. “Hopefully we could land on the roof of the hospital but you know what they say about the best laid plans.”

With the probability of something going wrong ever increasing, the pegasi went into a quiet glide. The thestrals patrolling the occupied city were none the wiser as the balloon passed over their heads with a barely audible whoosh of air. The equines held their breath as flights of bat-ponies returning from the ongoing air war for relief passed by close enough for them to see the dents and tears in their armor. Down below, they could see the toll the battle had taken on both sides as well as the city itself. Burnt out buildings smoldered and rubble littered the streets. Market squares had become sites of battle marred by magical blasts and blood. The corpses of ponies and thestrals alike had been left where they fell. The worst were charred beyond recognition by solar magic or exsanguinated to the point of desiccation by vampiric fangs.

“This ain’t right.” Applejack whispered in a heavy tone.

“I probably knew some of these equines.” Sentry concurred past gritted teeth. “Swapped stories and joked around with them.”

“Was the Empire this bad, Twilight?” Rarity asked while trying to distract them from the scene below.

“This is worse.” The Princess answered with abhorrence evident in her voice. “At least I don’t see any civilians down there.”

“No black knights or undead either.” She noticed. “So Grey hasn’t taken the field or is sitting this one out. I’ll take any break we can get.”

“Did you hear that?” A thestral asked his wingmate as they passed by the invisible balloon. “Sounded like whispering.”

“You sure it wasn’t Mistress Moon trying to talk with you?” The other said as the two entered a holding pattern that brought them uncomfortably closer.

“No. It almost sounded like Sparkle.” The first shook his head. “Shut up for a minute. Maybe I’ll hear it again.”

The heroines watched as the two bat-ponies drew inextricably closer toward them with ears perked. The pegasi did their best to time the beat of their wings to the thestrals and managed to cross into the residential district but they knew it was only a matter of time before they noticed. Twilight and Rarity aimed their horns at the investigators. They were just about to fire off some stun spells when a lance of light struck one of the thestrals in the head. He fell out of the air with nary a scream and disappeared into a burning building.

“Shit! Sniper!” The second shouted as he began flying erratically to throw off the sharpshooter’s aim.

His random movements proved futile as another lance shot through the air and hit him center mass. The beam burned clean through him and struck the balloon. As the thestral joined his wingmate, Discord’s spell began to falter as the dirigible deflated and the pegasi struggled to keep it airborne. Their intended landing spot came into view through the smoke but at their current rate of descent Sparkle doubted they could make it.

“I don’t think we can make the hospital!” She called out to the pegasi, the need for stealth now irrelevant. “Is there another place we can try?”

“I’ll be happy with just landing this thing!” Dash yelled as she flickered into view. “You all should hang on to something! It’s going to be rough where ever we land!”

The passengers heeded her advice and braced against the basket. The fliers aimed away from the hospital and guided them toward an empty square. They almost made it when a stray shot from the battle severed a few of the ropes holding the basket. The left side swung free and dumped Applejack and Rarity onto the roof of a house. The sudden shift in weight fouled the pegasi’s trajectory and they overshot the square into the side of what appeared to be an apartment. Sparkle’s world spun as the weakened wall gave way in a shower of stone and wood and she was thrown from the balloon. Once the stars cleared from her vision, the Princess found herself lying against an upturned chair with the wreck of their ride handing over her completely visible once more.

“Ugh.” Sparkle groaned as she got to all fours. “Everypony okay?”

“That was a great big pile of not fun.” Pinkie grumbled as she rolled off the bed she had landed on.

“You’re telling me.” Sentry called out. “Can any of you help us out? We got a bit tangled.”

The Alicorn looked up to see that her winged friends hanging from a support beam by their entangled harnesses. After enveloping them in her magic, she sent a small spark to cut the bit keeping them hanging and then lowered them gently to the floor.

“Believe it or not but I have had rougher landings.” Dash said with a short laugh. “One time, I-AH!”

The weather mare grimaced as she favored her left side. She looked over to find her wing hanging limply with a few feathers missing. Once she untangled herself with Sparkle’s help, an unharmed Fluttershy galloped over and looked over her friend.

“Is it broken?” The cyan pegasus asked apprehensively. “That would be my luck.”

“No, it’s just dislocated.” Her kindly friend said gently. “I’ll relocate it but I will have to bind it afterward.”

“I know. Go ahead.” Dash sighed in relief. “I’m sure it hurts worse than it actually is.”

While Fluttershy retrieved the medical supplies they brought, Sparkle got Sentry free and helped him to his hooves. The stallion had a few bruises but was otherwise uninjured. He did a quick head count and realized they were short two.

“Where’s Applejack and Rarity?” He asked alarmed.

“I see them!” Pinkie called out as she pointed across the street to the rooftops. “Up there.”

The pink party pony waved enthusiastically at her orange and peal friends who waved back.

“Y’all okay over there?” The apple farmer’s distinctive voice carried well.

“Dash hurt her wing but nothing serious.” Sentry shouted back. “Do you need help getting down from there?”

To answer, Rarity enveloped Applejack in her magical aura and gently floated her down to the ground. The honest mare returned the favor by catching the unicorn on her back after she took a somewhat stomach churning drop. The two were about to cross over to rejoin their friends when Sentry flared his wings to stop them.

“Don’t cross out in the open; it’s too risky.” He warned. “This street dead ends into one of the hospital’s storage buildings. We’ll meet you there.”

“Got it.” Applejack nodded. “Don’t take too long.”

The pair stuck to the shadows of the buildings and they made their way to the impromptu rendezvous. The rest gathered what they could from wreckage while Fluttershy finished patching up Dash. Once she had, they quickly exited the room and found a staircase to the ground floor. Fortunately for them, the apartment complex appeared to be abandoned with no sign of Solar or Night Guards.

“We should hurry.” Sparkle urged. “We seem to be removed from the frontlines but something was bound to see us crash.”

“No doubt.” Sentry agreed. “Sticking to the side streets and alleys should help us avoid patrols.”

Following the soldier’s advice, the group ducked into the shadowed backways of the city. They had put some distance between them and the crash site when they heard the distinctive sound of hooves on stone. Peering around a corner they saw a cohort of thestral Night Guards gallop down the street in the opposite direction.

“They must be the rearguard.” Sentry assumed. “Moon isn’t leaving loose ends.”

“We should guard our own rears.” Pinkie could not resist the wordplay. “Don’t want to find one of them nibbling on it.”

“Pinkie…” Dash groaned on behalf of the rest of her friends.

“LUNA!!!” The group froze as the call came down the mountain like an avalanche.

They looked up to see a bright light like a miniature sun shine out from the heart of the palace. A black figure trailing the night sky shot out of the city and plunged into the superstructure. It was clear to them that a challenge had been issued and answered in kind.

“She called her ‘Luna’.” Sparkle mused. “Either Daybreaker doesn’t know about Nightmare Moon yet or she’s taunting her by using her pure name.”

“Sounds like Daybreaker is calling out Nightmare Moon.” Dash said with a frown. “I think we’ve missed our window to bring back Celestia first.”

“Not yet, we haven’t.” The Princess of Magic said firmly as she broke into a full gallop. “Come on! There is still a chance to stop them but only if we hurry!”

“Not that I wish to second guess you, Twilight, but wouldn’t it be better for us to let them fight it out and then deal with the winner when they are tired?” Sentry suggested as he matched pace with the scholarly mare.

“I thought about that but we can’t let that happen.” Sparkle answered seriously. “This civil war is isolated from the rest of Equestria and the Moon and Sun are currently holding each other in balance. If either side wins, I suspect the first thing they will do is snuff out the sun or shatter the moon at which we will have crossed the event horizon into eternal day/night and the death of our world.”

“Wow.” The stallion immediately regretted his suggestion. “Alright then, let’s double time it!”

With the stakes reiterated for them, the group continued on. The challenge from Daybreaker seemed to have grabbed the attention of the rear guards as they encountered only a scant amount of distracted patrols. Before long, the storehouse Sentry had mentioned came into view. It appeared to have hosted the sight of a skirmish as half of it had been reduced to rubble and cooling corpses lay scattered before it. They cautiously entered the darkened structure and looked for signs of their missing friends. Sentry suddenly became acutely aware of something off about the building.

“It is way too quiet.” He said slowly as he scanned the room.

“I hate that cliché but I know what you mean.” Dash agreed as she shifted into a defensive stance. “I smell a trap.”

“What should we do?” Fluttershy asked nervously as a shadow fell across her. “We told Applejack and Rarity to meet us here- AAIIEE!”

With a hideous shriek and a flap of leathery wings, a thestral dropped from its perch among the charred rafters and pinned the pegasus to the floor. There was a flash of white as the vampiric fiend bared its fangs and sank them deep into the kindly mare’s neck. Dash immediately rush to aid her friend but in her haste forgot her wounded wing. Her attempted glide kick was avoided as the bat-pony rolled out of the way with Fluttershy still screaming in its maw. Her cries turned into a pained whimper as her strength began to fail. Sparkle aimed her horn at the attacker but hesitated to fire less she hit her friend. Suddenly, a blue aura surrounded a fallen beam and then swung it at the thestral like a bat.

“Get off her you ruffian!” Rarity shouted as the beast was knocked off the pegasus and into a pile of rubble with a screech.

The fiend recovered quickly and turned on the unicorn with a bloody snarl. It turned into a cry of pain as somepony bucked it in the sides with the strength of an experienced farmer. Applejack followed up by kicking out a damaged post and letting the section of the roof it was supporting collapse onto the thestral.

“A gift from Bucky and Kicks to you, varmint.” The apple farmer spat derisively. “’Shy! You okay?”

“Don’t worry I got her.” A recovered Dash grunted as she pulled her wounded friend onto her back, ignoring the pain from her lying on her bandaged wing. “Oh crap! There’s another one!”

The four quickly rejoined the group as another thestral swooped in. Unlike its partner, it did not attack immediately but rather stayed a fair distance away. Sparkle and Rarity ignited their horns and kept them trained on the stalking bat-pony. In the light of their magic, they could see the ornate armor of an officer of the Night Guard.

“Night-Captain Knight!” Sentry shouted in recognition. “Stand down!”

“I’m sorry, Captain Sentry.” Knight actually sounded genuinely remorseful. “I cannot do that. You should have stayed out of Canterlot. All of you.”

With a savage roar and an explosion of debris, the first thestral emerged from the fresh pile of rubble. Predatory eyes fixated upon the heroines as the second half of the Night Captains licked the blood that caked her protruding fangs with a forked tongue.

“I’ll tear out your hearts for that.” Vengeance, now a full blooded Umbral, sneered at the orange and white mares.

“Princess Sparkle. You and your friends get the mines.” The orange pegasus slipped into full soldier mode as he trotted forward. “I’ll hold these two off.”

“Sentry, no!” Sparkle tried to protest but was met with a steely gaze that told her she would only be wasting her breath.

“You have a nation to save.” Sentry said resolutely. “Go. Now!”

After shooting the two thestrals a withering death glare, the Princess and her friends turned and galloped out the back of the warehouse and toward the entrance to the mines. The Night-Captains tried to pursue but were swiftly rebuked by a swift kick and a sharp buck from the lone stallion.

“Alright you two.” Sentry said as he braced himself for what was sure to be a grueling fight. “Let’s settle this interservice rivalry.”

Capitalizing on the time the ex-Solar Guard had bought them, the six Element Bearers reached their destination without falling foul of any more thestrals. The entrance to the old crystal mines had been mostly spared the ravages of battle but it had still suffered damage. One the two statues that commemorated the historical excavation had been toppled and the sturdy iron doors bore pot marks from stray shots. Most notably however was the fact that the supposedly sealed mines were open as if something had exited from the other side. None of the equines dwelled on this as they quickly slipped inside the mountain and shut the doors behind them. They followed the tunnel into the mines proper before Dash stopped them.

“Hold up girls.” She said anxiously as she slid Fluttershy off her back. “She’s lost a lot of blood. We can’t go on without treating her.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Sparkle said as she recalled everything she might have read about trauma care and healing spells. “Rarity, I might need some help.”

The yellow pegasus was deathly pale and taking shallow, rapid breaths. Blood continued to stream from the twin puncture wounds in her neck but she at least appeared to be conscious. The Alicorn opened the med pack Fluttershy had with her and withdrew some gauze.

“Alright. Dash, I need you to keep her head still. Pinkie, make sure she doesn’t fall asleep. AJ, take these and wrap her neck when I tell you. Rarity, shine a light on her wounds so I can see.” She ordered each in turn as she ignited her own horn. “I’ll have to cauterize these to stop the bleeding. I’m sorry but this will hurt.”

“Do it…” Fluttershy said weakly.

After taking a breath to steady herself, Sparkle lowered her horn and touch it to the bite marks. Immediately, the demure pegasus cried out in pain as her flesh burned. Dash and Pinkie were forced to hold her down while the latter had the bright idea to give Fluttershy her tail to bite into. Once the bleeding had stopped, Sparkle cleaned the area and then gave Applejack the go ahead to wrap the wound.

“That was the hard part.” The Princess breathed a sigh of relief. “I can use a bit of magic to boost her energy but she will need a hospital after this.”

“Since she has a bum wing, you and Dashie can share a room.” Pinkie told her wounded friend. “I’ll be sure to visit every day until you two are better.”

“Yay…” Fluttershy managed a small smile.

Sparkle charged up her horn once more and bathed her gentle friend in a healing light. The pegasus let out a relaxed sigh as her natural color returned to her features. The lavender Princess continued her treatment for a few moments more before she cut the spell.

“Thank you.” The yellow mare said softly but more clearly. “All of you.”

“What are friends for?” Applejack smiled widely. “Now take it easy fer a bit. That looked nasty.”

“I’m…I’m feeling much better.” Fluttershy said quietly as she slowly but unsteadily got to her hooves.

“Maybe we should rest here for a bit.” Sparkle suggested. “We have been going nonstop here for a while.”

“No! I can make it.” The caretaker asserted firmly. “Like you said, we need to get to Celestia before Moon does.”

“You’re indestructible, Fluttershy.” Sparkle was impressed by the Bearer of Kindness’s fortitude. “All of you are.”

“You heard the mare.” Dash patted her fellow pegasus on the back. “Let’s move it!”

With the prismatic mare providing her pink maned counterpart support, the six heroines continued through the tunnel until they reached a central chamber or rather where one used to be. A ledge of rock extended a small distance from the wall before dropping off into a gaping abyss. A wooden rail had been installed for safety along with various scaffolding built into the sheer walls by the engineers of Canterlot in their ongoing attempts to repair the damage caused by Suneater’s destructive egress. The ever adventurous Pinkie approached the rail and peered over the edge. A bit of stone dislodged under her hoof and dropped into the inky blackness below. She did not hear it hit the bottom.

“Whoa nelly.” Applejack said as she adjusted her hat. “Now that is a hole.”

“Where do we go from here, Twilight?” Rarity asked as she scanned the expanse.

“We have two choices.” Sparkle answered as she withdrew a layout of the mines. “We can either follow Suneater’s route and enter the ballroom or find the tunnel that leads to the dungeons.”

“I vote dungeons.” The orange earth pony said simply. “I doubt Daybreaker has posted any guards there.”

“Seconded.” Pinkie voted. “That looks like a long climb anyway.”

“Okay. Dungeons it is.” Sparkle nodded as she looked for the route. “According to this the escape tunnel should be…over there on the other side of the chasm.”

The Alicorn pointed to where another tunnel opened up. It appeared to be intact with no signs of caving in but there was still the issue of reaching it. The engineers had not yet bridged the expanse directly but rather stuck to the walls with their system of scaffolding, simple elevators and chutes. With Sparkle being the only one still capable of flight and wishing to conserve her magic for the inevitable confrontation with her fellow Alicorns, they decided to take the roundabout way.

“This really takes me back.” Pinkie said casually as they rode a lift up. “Whenever we hit a rally big cavern at the rock farm, daddy would set up a thing just like this so my sisters and I could reach the ore in the ceiling.”

“How sturdy was it?” Rarity asked nervously as the wood and metal groaned under their weight.

“Solid as a rock.” The party pony beamed. “These are much the same; the engie’s knew what they were doing.”

“Considering how much they are paid, they better.” Sparkle thought as they traversed the skeletal structure.

They made it about halfway across when a tremor shook the cavern. The equines pressed against the stone wall as the sound of rock falling filled the air. Streams of dust poured down around them as bits of masonry from the palace above plunged into the abyss below. Fortunately, none of it struck the wooden platforms and the equines were able to proceed once the event passed.

“What was that?” Dash asked as she kept an eye on the ceiling far above. “Did the thestrals finally break into the palace?”

“Maybe.” Sparkle said unsurely. “It could have also been Moon blazing a trail to Daybreaker. I just hope that we get off this thing before one of those rocks hits it.”

While she may have been tempting fate by saying that, the heroines crossed to the other side without braving a collapsing cavern. Following the youngest Alicorn’s directions, they entered the escape tunnel made their way to the sub-levels of the palace. The age of the path combined with the destruction wrought by the Black Dragon had caused some rocks to shift which made for some tight squeezes and more than a few missteps but in time they reached a smooth stone wall. There was concern that they had reached a dead end or went through the wrong tunnel but there fears were alieved when Fluttershy noticed there was a draft coming from small gaps in the rock face.

“So this is the secret entrance.” Dash said as she tapped her hooves against the stone. “Is there a way to open it from this side?”

“There should be a magic release right about…” Sparkle trailed off as she pressed a few spots on the side wall with her horn. “…here!”

Her horn sunk into a small hole in the wall. After feeding a small bit of magic into it, there was the sound of ancient mechanisms turning and then the smooth stone began to shift forward. The false wall suddenly ground to a halt as something seized up followed by the distinctive snap of something breaking free. The equines made ready to run in case the malfunction resulted in a cave in but none came.

“I guess there was some internal damage.” Sparkle inferred with an aggravated snort. “Should we double back and try the ballroom or does anypony know how to fix this?”

“I do!” Pinkie volunteered eagerly and trotted to the jammed rock. “Let’s see…”

The rest stood by as their eccentric friend inspected the walls, floor and ceiling. After tapping the stone with her hooves, knocking her head against it a few times and even licking the rock, she reached a conclusion.

“I think I got it.” The pink earth pony nodded firmly. “AJ? I’m gonna need to borrow you for a bit.”

“If you say so.” Applejack said skeptically as she joined her friend.

Pinkie positioned the honest apple farmer facing away from the rock and indicated where she wanted her to buck as hard as she could. She then assumed a similar position under the hole Sparkle had found.

“On three.” The party pony instructed. “One…two…three!”

The two struck the stone simultaneously with a solid clunk. The fake wall shuddered and fell into its cavity in the floor with a heavy thud. Beyond laid a dimly lit cell and the dungeons of Canterlot. Pinkie turned to the rest of her friends and smiled brightly.

“Told you I know everything about rocks.” She said proudly.

“Heh. We never doubted you for a second.” Sparkle gave a short laugh.

The heroines passed through the secret passage into the undercroft. As they suspected, the dungeon was vacant with no signs of guards or prisoners. With most of the dungeon closed off to be repaired, the only route available was through processing and into the back halls. They would be some distance from the throne room where they assumed Daybreaker would be and there was no telling what type of resistance they might find along the way. With Dash and Fluttershy injured and Sentry gone, doubt began to creep into the Princes of Magic’s mind.

“We have not come this far to lose heart now.” Sparkle pushed the poisonous thoughts out and refocused as she galloped through the corridors along with her determined friends.

---

Daybreaker sat comfortably on her new throne she had conjured from the molten slag of Celestia’s. It had not been long since she issued her challenge to her nocturnal sister and she knew it would only be a matter of time before it was answered. While she wanted to take to the field and introduce the invaders to her fiery wrath, putting down Luna would bring the war to a quicker end. Afterwards, she could purge the night dwellers as well as the malcontents at her leisure.

“Cut the head off the snake.” The Solar Destroyer thought with a wicked grin. “And then burn the body. Or maybe I could do both!”

Thus did the mad Alicorn wait for her dear sister to arrive. She could hear the din of battle raging outside the palace along with explosions that signaled a death of a Solarii but the brass lunged shouting of Luna was notably absent. The fiery Princess was beginning to wonder if the Lunar Alicorn had somehow fallen to some extremely lucky guard when she both heard and felt something quickly approaching. Dull booms shook the throne room as walls were blown apart. The panicked shouts of guards followed by the sharp slices of magic grew louder. Over it all, Daybreaker could hear a cold maniacal laughter that was eerily familiar.

“Could it be?” The Tyrant of the Sun wondered just as the noise reached just outside her door.

“Sun above! Help- argh!” One of last Solar Guards perished.

“It’s a demon! Run for-ack!” The distinctive crunch of bone signaled the end of the other.

The Princess of the Day straightened up in her throne as a tense stillness filled the air. Not a moment later, the sun scorched golden doors exploded inward in a burst of lunar magic. The once magnificent edifices fell to the ground with a cacophonous clatter as a cloud of pulverized marble wafted in. The bodies of the guardstallions were thrown inside contemptuously, their wounds indicating a rather painful death. With measured hoof falls, their vanquisher trotted into the throne room. Rather than a navy mare with a starry mane, a midnight black fiend in cobalt armor stood before the sun-blessed Alicorn.

“Nightmare Moon?” Daybreaker’s red and gold eyes widened in surprise.

“Celestia! It is time to finish what we started!” The Usurper proclaimed. “After a thousand years, your…wait, what?”

The two fallen Princesses stared at each other with neither one sure what to make of the other. The Harbinger of Eternal Night shrugged off the sudden awkwardness and fixed the other armored Alicorn with a cold glare.

"Who are you?" She demanded.

"I am everything Celestia has long denied she was but you may call me Daybreaker." The Herald of the Sun answered. "I see you have found yourself during your little dragon chase, traitor."

"Oh, I found much more than that." Moon's teal slitted eyes shone with power. "I have the means to finally take the throne no matter who sits on it."

“Well now, and here I was worried about making Luna a martyr.” Daybreaker said smoothly. “No one would morn for a usurper particularly a demonic fiend like you.”

“Coming from the despot with a mane of fire.” The Night Mare retorted. “At least now all the world can see you for the tyrant I knew you were from the start. It will make my impending supremacy all the easier.”

“History will be written by the winner as it always is.” The Solar Alicorn waved that off dismissively. “Although Celestia has already written yours if you think about it.”

“A bit of revision will see to that.” The Usurper countered. “I'll start with how the last Mistress of the Day died screaming as her precious sun was extinguished forever!”

“Hehaha. You forget that I am not the same Alicorn that you bested upon your first return.” The fiery Princess chuckled dryly as she stood up from her throne. “Poor, narrow minded Celestia used the sun to merely chase away the darkness you hold so dear. I on the other hoof..."

Daybreaker ignited her horn in a blaze of brilliant light. Far above the two former diarchs, the omnipresent eclipse weakened as the obscured sun's light threaten to overwhelm the moon and forces the few stars in the sky to fade. Fiery coronas expanded out from the conflicted celestial bodies and extended toward Equus like fiendish fingers. The solar flares burned through the atmosphere, turning clouds into superheated plasma and setting the horizon ablaze. The pillars of purifying flame touched down across Equestria, turning miles of the Everfree into sterile glass before they began encroaching on cities and settlements the mad tyrant had deemed troublesome including the Neo-Crystal City, Hollow Shades and Canterlot itself.

"You and I can agree on one thing, dear sister." The Solar Destroyer declared as she lived up to her name. "When corruption taints this land, it must be cut out and I can think of no better scaple that the purifying light of the sun!"

"AH-HAHAHAHAHA! You may not be as fettered as Celestia but you are just as deluded as her!" Nightmare Moon cackled maniacally. "You cannot accept that fact that light is impermanent. A single candle may light a dark room but it will eventually go out while the darkness, my night, is eternal. Your sun is no different!"

"Yet you draw power from the lesser light of the sky and crave the adoration I enjoy from the plebs." Daybreaker retorted as she flared her armored wings. "It does not matter if darkness challenges me as an insane slaver, gluttonous centaur or even a jealous sister. No one will take this world from me!"

As fire rained from the heavens and war ravaged the ground, the corrupted and the mad mares circled each other. Both could feel the time for talk drawing to a close. It was just a matter of seeing who would make the first move.

"My star will always shine the brightest, demon!" The Solar Princess sneered as the luminous raw power of the tyrant sun coursed through her horn and empowered body. "And it will shine alone!"

"You command but one star, fool!" The Lunar Princess hissed as the umbral power of the night filled her reborn frame with nightmarish might. "And I will see to it that it dies with you!"

The two former sisters locked eyes as they both assumed combat stances. As cathartic as it felt to air long held grievances, there was only one way this millennia long feud could end. With a ferocious roar and a bloodcurdling shriek, the two Alicorns charged each other as the civil war reached its apex.

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