“Hmm. A meteor shower,” Luna muttered to herself as she scanned three different scrolls at once. “That could be interesting. Or maybe an eclipse. No, that’s out of the question. Celestia would have to help me with that one.” She knew she shouldn’t hold a grudge against her sister, but she couldn’t help it, not after the Shining Aurora disaster. She rolled and stored the scrolls with a sigh and selected three more from the pile. “There has to be something here I’ve overlooked.”

Luna could feel a headache coming on, but she wanted to look through a few more scrolls before she had to take a break. Her eyes drifted once again to the high shelf where the black box lay. It really would be easy, she said to herself before shaking her head to clear the thought away. She would never use the Scroll of Eternal Night, no matter what. It was too dangerous. And yet, a few minutes later, she found herself gazing at that high shelf again. I have to stop thinking about it, she told herself. It’ll only drive me crazy.

There was a knock at the door, followed by Shieldwall’s voice. “Princess Luna? Are you in there?”

Luna opened the door. Sure enough, Shieldwall was standing outside. “Oh, hello,” she said as the gray stallion entered. “How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you,” Shieldwall said with a smile. “And you, my lady?”

“Oh, well enough,” Luna said. “I was a little worried about you.”

“Worried, your highness?”

“Well, you didn’t stop by the last couple nights, and one of our scribes told me my sister called you in to-” Luna froze mid-sentence. “Where is your uniform? Celestia didn’t release you from duty, did she?”

“Of course not,” Shieldwall said with a laugh. “I never wear my uniform when I’m off-duty.”

“Off-duty?” Luna repeated. “You’re not on the night watch anymore?”

“I had to take a break for the time being,” Shieldwall said. “Princess Celestia asked for a few favors, and I’ve been so busy during the day, I couldn’t possibly cover the night watch, too.”

“Oh.” Luna wasn’t sure what else to say. What is she up to? Shieldwall is one of the few ponies that appreciate my night. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Color Wheel or Shuttleweave in several nights, either. Is she trying to stop everypony from admiring my work?

“Is something wrong, your majesty?” Shieldwall asked.

“What? Oh, of course not,” Luna said. “I was just thinking about a new spell I was working on.” Her eyes drifted once again to that high shelf. So easy…

“Well, I hoped you’d be willing to do something different tonight, your majesty,” Shieldwall said.

“Different? What do you mean?”

“You know, get out of the library, do something besides study for a change.”

Luna wasn’t sure what to say. I know he’s my friend, but what if Celestia is using him to distract me? What ‘favors’ could she ask of him? She found herself picturing Celestia ordering him to keep her from studying. But why would he agree to that? He promised he’d always be there for me.

“What do you say, Princess?” Shieldwall asked. “Just a short walk to the square.”

She still had her suspicions, but she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. “Very well,” she said. “Just to the square. Then I must return to my studies.”

Luna made sure to close the library door behind her as she followed Shieldwall into the night. As they walked down the street, she realized that she couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken a midnight walk through Everfree. It really is beautiful, she said to herself as a gentle breeze tugged at her flowing mane.

“I hope you’re not upset about what happened with the Shining Aurora,” Shieldwall said. “I was on patrol at the time, but the other guards told me the reception wasn’t quite what you expected.”

“Oh, of course not,” she said. She didn’t like lying to him, but she was reluctant to share her true feelings at the moment.

“For what it’s worth, your highness, I could have watched it all night,” Shieldwall said.

And yet, at a request from Celestia, you’ve abandoned the night altogether, Luna thought bitterly. After all she and I have done together, she seeks to rob me of everything I’ve worked for.

“Looks like we’re almost there,” Shieldwall said, drawing Luna away from her dark thoughts. She looked ahead and saw that the square was lit with several torches and filled with what might have been every pony in Everfree.

“What is this?” Luna asked. “What’s going on?”

“Why don’t we go find out?” Shieldwall said. He sounded innocent enough, but judging by his expression, Luna had a feeling he already knew.

“Look! It’s Princess Luna!” several ponies shouted as she and Shieldwall drew near. When she entered the square, everypony began cheering and stomping. Several shops were filled with all kinds of food, and a small stage had been set up along one side.

“I don’t understand,” Luna said, eying what looked like a bowl of fake spiders without a clue as to what they were for. “Why is everypony here?”

“To celebrate the longest night of the year,” Shieldwall said. “This is why I’ve been so busy lately. Princess Celestia asked me to help plan this festival in your honor.”

“You mean all of this is for me?” Luna surveyed the scene once again – the smiling ponies, the food, the stage – and could hardly believe it. “But nopony cared about my night before.”

“Of course we did, your highness,” said Shuttleweave as she pushed her way through the crowd. “We were all just too tired to show it. But now that the harvest’s over, we can finally relax and celebrate for a change.”

“I know you’ve been discouraged, little sister, so I asked all our friends to help organize this celebration,” Celestia said as the crowd parted to let her through. “Do you like it?”

“Yes!” Luna said, her face breaking into a smile. “Yes, I do like it very much!”

Another cheer rose from the crowd at her declaration. “I’m glad to hear it,” Celestia said. “Now, follow me to the stage. Shuttleweave has a special gift for you.”

Everypony made way as the two sisters walked to the stage. Now that she was closer, Luna could see Color Wheel standing behind a podium, a rope hanging from the stage behind her. “Citizens of Everfree,” Color Wheel shouted over the cheers of the crowd as Luna and Celestia took their places on the stage. “We are gathered tonight to honor our dear Princess Luna and her wonderful night! In honor of her hard work and effort, and on behalf of all of Everfree, I would like to present her with this tapestry, which was inspired by her beautiful night!”

Shuttleweave pulled on the rope, and the tapestry unfurled. Luna had seen her work before, but she had never seen anything like this. She saw herself standing in the square, looking up at the night sky, her horn glowing. Shuttleweave had used her precious silver thread to make her cutie mark, and when she looked closely, she saw that the dozens of stars were actually tiny diamonds embedded in the fabric. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “This must have taken you weeks.”

“Almost a month,” Shuttleweave said. “It would have taken me longer, but when Princess Celestia told me about the festival, I decided to put all my time into finishing it for you.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Luna said.

“A simple thank you will suffice,” Shuttleweave said. “It’s the least I could do, after all you’ve given us.”

Luna looked out at the crowd. Everypony’s eyes were fixed on the tapestry, just as they’d been fixed on Luna’s Aurora for that one brief moment. The Aurora, the bitter part of her said, but she pushed the thought out of her mind. She couldn’t allow such thoughts, not tonight. Yet somehow that thought began to grow and snake its way through her head. Why do they come so willingly at Celestia’s invitation? her bitter half asked. Why do they sacrifice for her, but not for you?

“Yes, your majesty, this tapestry is but the smallest expression of our gratitude,” Color Wheel was saying, now addressing the crowd as much as the princess. Luna shook her head and forced herself to listen to the speech, hoping it would keep her thoughts at bay. “Before you and your sister arrived, our lives were nothing but misery and chaos. But now, you have given us order and hope. You have given us a reliable day in which to work and play, and a beautiful night to give us inspiration and rest. It is easy for us to appreciate the day and all it brings, but believe me when I say-”

“What do you mean, easy?”

Color Wheel seemed to be at a loss for words as all eyes turned to Luna. “I’m sorry?” Shuttleweave said.

“Why do you say it’s easy to appreciate the day?” Luna asked. “Are you saying it is difficult to appreciate my night?”

“N-not at all, your majesty,” Color Wheel said. “I was going to say-”

“And why must you compare the two?” Luna continued, ignoring the confused looks from the crowd. “This is a celebration to honor the night, is it not?”

“Luna, please,” Celestia said. “There is no need to be angry.”

“Isn’t there?” Luna demanded, rounding on her sister. “This was your idea, was it not? Why is it, sister, that the ponies come eagerly for your festival, when I cannot hold their attention with even the most difficult of spells?”

“This isn’t about-”

“Why is it?” Luna shouted, turning to the now frightened crowd. “Did you only come for the food? Or is it merely because it was your beloved Celestia invited you here, and not her lowly sister?”

“Luna, that’s enough!”

“No,” Luna growled, turning her fierce glare on Celestia once again. “It is much more than enough. If they refuse to accept my night of their own free will, I will make them accept it by force.”

The crowd parted to either side as Luna leapt from the stage and galloped towards the library. It was a trick. A charade meant to mock me. Her tears left a trail behind her as she made her way through the streets. She didn’t bother opening the door when she reached the library, but smashed it to pieces with one kick. Cleansweep dropped his broom and cried out in shock, but she paid him no mind as she hurried to the high shelf in the back.

“Princess, what’s wrong?” Cleansweep asked.

“Leave me alone!” Luna yelled as she reached for the black box with her magic and began undoing its enchantments one by one.

“Your majesty, what is the meaning of-” Scrollkeeper froze when he saw the box hovering in front of the princess. “Your majesty! Stop!”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” Luna shouted. The last of the enchantments fell away, and the box opened noiselessly. Luna lifted the scroll from within and looked at it for a moment. It was held shut with a black seal, and she could almost feel the power emanating from within. “The Scroll of Eternal Night is mine,” she said.

Cleansweep started to speak, but Scrollkeeper pushed him away. “Run, Cleansweep. We must leave this place immediately!”

Wise choice, Luna thought as she focused her magic on the seal. A small voice in her head screamed at her to stop, but the pushed it aside. They will regret the day they insulted me and rejected my night, she vowed as she pried the seal loose. I’ll be sure to make them pay.

The library had just come into view when a powerful force knocked Celestia to the ground. Laughter rang in her ears as she scrambled to her hooves, and a thick cloud of darkness billowed out of the library. “Luna! Luna, answer me!”

A mare emerged from the shadows, but it was not the Luna she knew. Her body was jet black, and her mane and tail swirled as though they were entities of their own. She wore blue armor on her lower legs and chest, and a blue helmet covered her face. If not for the crescent moon cutie mark on her flank, she would have never known Luna and this mare of darkness were one and the same.

“Luna, please, you must stop!” Celestia cried.

“It’s no use, your majesty,” said Scrollkeeper as he and Cleansweep emerged from a side street. “She’s opened the Scroll of Eternal Night.”

“That’s right,” said the mare in a voice that sounded like Luna’s but resounded with dark power. “I am no longer your sister. I am Nightmare Moon, and I will make you pay for all you did to me!” Lightning flashed as the mare leapt to a nearby roof. “Citizens of Everfree!” she shouted. “You shall not escape my wrath! You have rejected your princess and her night, and you will all now pay the price!”

“Enough!” Celestia yelled. “You will not harm these good ponies. They have done you no wrong!”

“You’re right,” the mare agreed. “Why should I punish them when it was you who manipulated them all along?” Before Celestia could react, a beam of darkness shot from the mare’s horn directly at her chest.

“No!” A gray stallion shot past Celestia, and before she could blink, a magical wall stood between her and the mare’s attack. “I won’t let you do this,” said Shieldwall, his glowing horn providing energy to the barrier spell.

“You!” the mare shouted. “What is the meaning of this?”

“I cannot allow you to harm Princess Celestia,” Shieldwall said, planting himself firmly between the princess and the dark mare.

“Traitor!” the mare screeched. “You promised you’d be there for me, not side with her!”

“I promised I’d be there for Princess Luna,” Shieldwall shouted back. “I see no reason to honor that promise for a mare who calls herself Nightmare Moon!”

“Fool!” the mare cried. “If that is your choice, you will suffer the same fate as she!” The mare leapt from roof to roof until she reached the square. “Citizens of Everfree! I offer you a choice. Bring me Celestia and the stallion called Shieldwall, or I will cover all of Equestria with an eternal night. I will return at the hour of dawn. You have until then to decide.” The mare’s shadowy figure leapt across the housetops until she disappeared into the forest beyond.

“I will not abandon the Princess to this Nightmare Moon,” said Captain Galeforce, stomping his hoof for emphasis. “The royal guards are sworn to protect her, and we will do our duty.”

“You cannot resist the dark mare’s power,” Scrollkeeper said. “Our ancestors sealed away the Scroll of Eternal Night for good reason.”

“Our ancestors overcame this very same power, and we can do it again,” Galeforce said. “Now tell us, how did they do it?”

“You’ve asked that question a hundred times already,” Color Wheel said. “The night is almost spent, and this discussion is getting us no closer to a solution.”

“And what would you suggest?” the captain demanded, flapping his large wings. “Do you think we should bow to this Nightmare Moon? Should we sacrifice our good princess for one who has become corrupted and evil?”

“That’s enough!” Color Wheel shouted. “I won’t let you speak about Princess Luna like that!”

“I’m afraid the Princess we knew has been lost to the power of the Scroll,” Scrollkeeper said. “Only a creature of darkness would leave us with such a choice.”

“That’s not true,” Shieldwall said. “She remembered my promise. Princess Luna is still there, if only we can reach her.”

“You will not speak out of turn, soldier,” Galeforce snapped. “Nightmare Moon intends to remove our ruler and put herself in her place. The royal guards cannot allow that to happen.”

“And how will you stop her?” Scrollkeeper asked. “Have you not read the archives? Hundreds fell to the centaur’s power before our ancestors could overwhelm him. His land was a desolate waste, and the few inhabitants were his helpless slaves. If she is determined to have the Princess, you will not be able to stop her.”

“And what would you suggest, librarian?” Galeforce demanded. “Do you think surrendering Princess Celestia and my soldier will buy us mercy? How long do you think we can live in peace with Nightmare Moon as our ruler?”

“Enough,” Celestia said. Her head was beginning to ache from all the shouting. “Captain, I appreciate your loyalty and valor, but I cannot ask you or your ponies to stand in Luna’s way. The risk is far too great.”

The captain scowled, but he did not raise his voice in protest. “What do you propose we do, your majesty?”

“I must do what is best for Equestria,” Celestia said as she walked towards the balcony, where the full moon was fully visible. “Luna cannot be allowed to continue on the path she has chosen.” A yellow aura burst to life around her horn as she attempted to raise the sun, but nothing happened. “The hour of dawn is here, but Luna’s power is too great. Unless she relents, I cannot raise the sun, and Equestria will die. I must face her and make her see reason, and I must ask you all not to follow me.”

“You’re not giving up, are you?” Cleansweep asked. The golden colt had refused to be separated from his uncle, and Celestia had reluctantly given in.

“Your majesty, I must ask you to reconsider,” Scrollkeeper said. “As noble as your intentions are, we cannot depend on the dark mare’s mercy or kindness.”

“There is no other choice,” Celestia said. “We cannot defeat her, nor can we allow her to continue unchecked. Our only chance is to convince her to stop now, before it is too late.”

“Your majesty, there may be one other option,” Scrollkeeper said. “None of us can overpower her on our own, but perhaps we can do it together.”

“You think you can succeed where my royal guards would fail?” Galeforce said.

“Unlike your royal guards, we can wield a power greater that Discord himself,” Scrollkeeper said. “The Elements of Harmony saved us from certain doom once before. I believe they can do it again.”

“No,” Celestia said. “I will not use their power on my own sister.”

“She leaves us with no choice, your majesty,” Scrollkeeper said.

“You want to turn her to stone?” Color Wheel gasped.

“We cannot know for sure what the Elements will do to her,” Scrollkeeper said. “There are records of ponies who were able to bend the Elements to their will. Perhaps Princess Celestia can do the same.”

“That is a risk I cannot take, Scrollkeeper,” Celestia said. “Besides, Luna is the wielder of the Element of Loyalty. Without her, we cannot use them at all.”

“Unless we find another to take her place,” Scrollkeeper said.

“Nonsense,” said Color Wheel. “It would take a pony of exceptional loyalty to wield her Element. Where are we to find such a pony on such short notice?”

Scrollkeeper did not answer her, but instead turned to Shieldwall. “When you stood up to the dark mare, you told her you would not honor the promise you made to Princess Luna. Why?”

Shieldwall frowned. “Because it wasn’t Princess Luna,” he said. “Not really, anyway. I couldn’t let her do something I knew she’d regret when she came to her senses.”

“Do you truly believe the Princess you know can still be saved?”

“Yes,” Shieldwall said without hesitation.

Scrollkeeper turned to Princess Celestia. “Your majesty, I believe this young guard has displayed exceptional loyalty both to you and your sister,” he said. “I believe he can wield the Element of Loyalty in your sister’s place. If I am wrong, that will be the end of it. But I must insist you consider this option.”

Celestia’s eyes rested on the chest that lay beside her throne. With the exception of Luna, all the other Elements were present – Color Wheel’s Kindness, Shuttleweave’s Generosity, Scrollkeeper’s Honesty, Cleansweep’s Laughter, and her own Magic. Her horn glowed with yellow light as she brought the chest to rest in front of her. She opened the chest and lifted the Element of Loyalty from within. The gold necklace shone in the torchlight. Celestia’s tired, worried face reflected back at her from the facets of the necklace’s crescent-shaped ruby. Just like Luna’s cutie mark…

“Princess?” Celestia looked down to see Cleansweep looking up at her. “We have to help Princess Luna. She’s our friend. We have to do whatever it takes to bring her back to normal.”

Celestia’s levitation spell carried the Element of Loyalty to Shieldwall and put it around his neck. The ruby shone with a bright white light and changed from a crescent moon to a spear. “I-is that supposed to happen?” Shieldwall asked.

“It means the Element has accepted you as its wielder,” Celestia said. “Are you willing to wield it now?”

Shieldwall nodded. “I don’t know what will happen, but if it will help Princess Luna, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Celestia looked around at the others as she used her levitation spell to give them their respective Elements. “And the rest of you?”

“I, too, will do what is necessary,” Scrollkeeper said, the orange scroll-shaped gem of his Element resting against his chest.

“Uh-huh,” Cleansweep said as the blue broom-shaped gem was fastened around his neck.

“I stood by you before, and I’ll stand by you know,” said Color Wheel as the necklace bearing the pink paintbrush-shaped jewel clipped shut just above her withers.

“This breaks my heart,” said Shuttleweave as she took her Element in her own levitation spell, “but I will do what must be done.” She fastened the purple loom-shaped gemstone around her neck with a look of resolution.

“This will be our last resort,” Celestia said as she lifted the final Element, a golden tiara crowned with a pink jewel shaped like the sun, from the chest. “I will try to make her see reason, but if I fail…”

Celestia couldn’t bring herself to finish. As she placed the tiara on her head, she found herself trembling. I must not fail, she said to herself. I must make Luna come to her senses. If I am forced to use the Elements of Harmony against her, there’s no telling what might happen.

“So, I see you have chosen to fight.” Luna’s twisted voice echoed through the room. A dark wisp snaked its way onto the balcony and morphed into Nightmare Moon. “With the Elements of Harmony, no less. Nice try, Celestia, but without me, those elements are no more that pretty decorations.”

“Luna, I do not want to fight you,” Celestia said. “I hoped we could talk and settle this peacefully.”

“Talk? The time for talking is long past,” the dark mare said. “You have sought to sabotage my night at every turn, and you have made a mockery of everything I do.”

“That’s not true!” Celestia said. “I have done nothing but try to help you!”

“Lies!” the mare shouted. “But then, I would expect as much from a pony like you.”

“Please, don’t do this,” Celestia said. “We were meant to rule together, not quarrel and fight.”

“Don’t patronize me!” said the mare, lightning flashing behind her as she spoke. “Your time is up. Surrender to me, or doom Equestria to an eternal night.”

Celestia’s mind raced, but she could think of nothing that would not end in conflict. Luna, why are you doing this? Why can’t you see reason?

“I grow tired of waiting,” the dark mare shouted. “Choose now, or I will choose for you!”

Celestia bowed her head. Every word she spoke tore at her heart. “I cannot stand by while you threaten all of Equestria with destruction. If you will not turn from this path, then you leave me no choice but to stop you.”

“Very well,” the dark mare growled. “Let us see if your precious Elements of Harmony can compare with my power and strength. But know this, Celestia. From this time forth, Equestria will never see your sun or hear your name again. I swear it!”

Celestia closed her eyes and let the power of the Elements fill her body. She felt as one by one, her companions did the same. The energy built up inside her until she could no longer hold it in. A beam of rainbow light arced towards the mare on the balcony and surrounded her in a swirling pillar of colors and light.

Don’t turn her to stone, Celestia pled. Strip her of her dark powers instead. Yet even as she thought it, she knew even the Elements could not bring Luna back, for her hatred and anger were still too strong. What can I do? Never in a thousand years did I imagine Luna would become as heartless as this Nightmare Moon. Must I banish my own sister? After all we’ve been through, is she doomed to a life of exile?

Celestia felt the Elements react and realized with horror what she’d done, but it was too late to change the spell now. The whirling column shot out the window and through the night sky, carrying the mare of darkness to a place she would not be disturbed. Celestia felt the power of the Elements ebb, and soon she was lost in a dreamless sleep.

“Your majesty! Are you all right?”

With a moan, Celestia opened her eyes and looked around. Several armed guards surrounded her, and to her surprise, the sky was light outside. “What happened?”

“It worked, your majesty,” said Captain Galeforce. “Nightmare Moon is gone. The sun rose just after she disappeared. You have saved us all.”

Then why do I feel so miserable? Celestia asked herself. “H-how is the village?” she asked. “Is everypony all right?”

“Terrified, but mostly unharmed,” Galeforce said. “I told them enough to put their minds at ease, but I thought it would be better if you gave them the details.”

For the first time, Celestia regretted having a captain of the guard with foresight. “What about the others? Shuttleweave? Scrollkeeper?”

“All alive and well, though a bit shaken and confused,” the captain said. “They’re waiting for you in the reception hall. They have a lot of questions they’d like to ask you.”

Celestia sighed. “Very well. Tell them I will be down shortly. You and your guards may take your leave.”

“Yes, your majesty.” Galeforce nodded at the guards, who promptly turned and followed their leader outside. Celestia walked to the balcony and looked out at Everfree. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary day, but to Celestia it seemed so much darker. My dear Luna, why couldn’t I save you? Tears began to well in Celestia’s eyes, but she forced herself not to cry. My subjects need me, she told herself. My friends need me. I must be strong for them.

Cleansweep was the first to greet her with a tackle that nearly threw her off her hooves. “Princess Celestia! I’m so glad you’re all right!”

“Cleansweep, control yourself,” Scrollkeeper said, but his voice lacked a bit of its usual severity. “You are all right, I assume?” he added.

“I’m as well as can be expected,” Celestia answered as she untangled herself from Cleansweep’s embrace. “And you?”

“The same as you, it seems,” Shuttleweave said. One look at their tired, downturned faces told Celestia everything she needed to know. Shieldwall looked particularly shaken. Celestia couldn’t tell if it was from using the Elements or the result.

“Before we go any further, I must ask you to return the Elements of Harmony,” Celestia said, placing the open chest in the center of the room. The five ponies removed their necklaces in silence. None of them looked eager to wear them again. “I must go to address my subjects, but before I do, I want to answer any questions you might have for me.”

The five ponies looked at each other. Celestia knew it wasn’t a matter of what to ask, but who would ask it. Finally, Shieldwall spoke up. “Your majesty, where is Princess Luna?”

Celestia let out a long sigh. “I did my best to save her, but her anger was too great for even the Elements to overcome.”

“So what happened?”

Celestia found it difficult to look any of them in the eye. “I banished her.”

“Banished?” Color Wheel repeated. “Where? For how long?

Celestia had to turn away before she could bring herself to answer. “I’m afraid she will spend the next thousand years on the moon.”

“The moon!?”

“A thousand years?”

“Your majesty, why?” Shuttleweave asked.

“I didn’t mean to do it!” Celestia said. “I wanted to help her, but it just happened so fast, and before I knew it…” The white alicorn’s voice cracked, and she found herself unable to speak as her tears broke free. “I only meant to help her,” she sobbed. “I never meant for things to go so wrong.”

Celestia heard Scrollkeeper’s hooves clop on the stone floor as he stepped closer. “None of us did, your majesty,” he said. “All of us did our best to help Princess Luna see the truth.”

“He’s right, your highness,” Shuttleweave said. “We did everything we could. Princess Luna’s choices were her own.”

“If only we’d acted sooner,” Celestia said. “Maybe none of this would have happened.”

“You can’t let yourself think like that, your majesty,” Color Wheel said. “We all did what we thought was best. Nopony can expect any more.”

“She’s right, your majesty,” said Shieldwall. “We may not like the outcome, but we must move forward and hope for the best.”

Celestia felt something nudge her leg. She looked down and saw Cleansweep wrapping her foreleg in his embrace, and for once, Scrollkeeper didn’t reprimand him for his insolence. “It’s okay, your majesty. Everything will be all right.”

Celestia’s face broke into a teary smile as she looked out at her friends. “Thank you,” she said, color rising to her face. The royal fanfare began playing outside. “Might we continue this conversation later? I need a moment alone before I address my subjects.”

The five ponies nodded and left the hall. Celestia took several deep breaths and blinked a few times to shake lose any remaining tears. When she stepped outside and began to speak, nopony suspected she’d been crying just moments before.

“Citizens of Everfree,” she said. The crowd was absolutely silent as she spoke. “I am grateful for your patience and tranquility. It has been a troubling night for all of us, and I hope I can set your minds at ease. I am glad to report that the mare called Nightmare Moon no longer poses a threat to our village or to Equestria, thanks to the courage of five ponies who stood by my side in our darkest hour.

“However, this victory has not come without a great sacrifice. This Nightmare Moon was, in fact, our beloved Princess Luna. I tried to reason with her, but she was beyond my help. I had no choice but to use the Elements of Harmony to banish her to a distant place for a very long time, but I believe she will return one day.”

The crowd began to mumble at this declaration, but Celestia continued. “Please, do not fear. It is true that she chose to become a mare of darkness, but she does not have to remain that way. I believe the true Luna still lies deep within her, and that with time, it may be possible to bring her back to us once again. I do not know for sure what will happen when she returns, but I look forward to that day with the hope that I will be able to see my beloved sister once again. I believe the night is now past us, and that the day will only get brighter from here.”

Sadly, the situation in Everfree did not improve. The pegasus ponies began to have difficulties managing the weather, and crops began to grow unpredictably. Soon the animals began avoiding the village altogether, choosing instead to hide in the forest and fend for themselves. Some even broke into the ponies’ storehouses, so that while Everfree had enjoyed a decent harvest, the village began to find itself short on food.

“I believe the Scroll of Eternal Night is to blame, you majesty,” Scrollkeeper told Celestia one day. “You and I both felt a powerful force when Princess Luna opened it. Its power must have corrupted the land as it did your sister.”

“How can we stop it?” Celestia asked.

“Only by sealing the Scroll’s power once again, and I’m afraid that is beyond us,” Scrollkeeper said. “Nightmare Moon destroyed many of the archive scrolls, and I have been unable to find any clues as to how to stop the dark power from spreading.”

“So all of Equestria is doomed?” Celestia said. “Were all our efforts in vain?”

“I believe with the dark mare’s absence, the spell will not extend beyond the forest,” Scrollkeeper said. “However, the forest itself will become more and more unmanageable as time goes on.”

“For once, I agree with the librarian,” said Captain Galeforce. “Even if we survive the winter, we cannot continue in these conditions. We must abandon Everfree to its fate.”

Celestia looked hard for another solution, but as the days wore on, it became clear that the captain was right. The announcement was made, and in the dead of winter, the ponies began packing their belongings. Celestia made sure to bring her personal library, and she knew Discord’s statue would have to come, but the rest she left behind, and she encouraged everypony to abandon anything they wouldn’t need. She sent letters to the closest towns and villages explaining Everfree’s plight, and most agreed to take in the refugees. Soon, everypony was ready to leave.

The only question that remained was what to do with the Elements of Harmony.

“I don’t see why we can’t take them with us, your highness,” said Galeforce. “Something that powerful should not be left behind.”

“I must agree with the captain on this point, your majesty,” Scrollkeeper said. “We do not know who might discover them or for what purpose they might be used.”

“The Elements of Harmony are not like the Scroll of Eternal Night,” Celestia said as she held the Elements high above her with a levitation spell. “Only the worthiest of ponies may wield their power.”

“But what if we need them again, your majesty?” Shuttleweave asked.

“That’s just it,” Celestia said. “How can I wield their power again after what happened to Luna?” A yellow aura burst to life around her horn, and one by one the Elements changed into unremarkable stone orbs, just as they’d been when she and Luna first discovered them. “I have made my decision,” she said as the Element of Magic disappeared in a flash of light. The others she laid to rest on the arms of a large monument in the reception hall. “Here I choose to leave them, and here they will remain until Equestria has need of them again.”

“Very well, your majesty,” Captain Galeforce said. “All the preparations are made. At your command, we shall depart.”

Celestia nodded, and the captain and Scrollkeeper left the reception hall. “Is there something I can do for you, Shuttleweave?” she asked.

“No, your majesty,” Shuttleweave said. “I’ve come to give you something.” Celestia noticed for the first time that Shuttleweave had brought a tapestry with her. “It’s the one I made for Princess Luna,” she explained. “I thought you should have it.”

Celestia unrolled the tapestry and looked at it for a long time. “Yes,” she finally said as she looked at Luna’s serious yet hopeful expression. “This is how I would like to remember her. Thank you.”

“I’ll put it with your things, your majesty,” Shuttleweave said with a slight bow before turning to leave as well. Celestia stood in the reception hall for a moment before spreading her wings and flying out the high window. The villagers were making their way through the streets below in a long procession that stretched from the castle to the forest’s edge. She flapped her wings and soared upward until she could see beyond the forest to the valley and mountains beyond. She could see Canterlot’s ruin in the distance, and Luna’s words from long ago echoed in her mind. We should rebuild it, big sister. It would mean everything to the ponies here.

A few tears escaped Celestia’s eyes as she turned away and returned to the villagers. I promise to rebuild it, little sister, she said to herself, wishing that somehow Luna could hear. If you let me, I will help you make all your dreams come true.