It was just at the cusp of dawn, as Luna dozed fitfully in the courtroom. At one point, her mind slipped while watching the moon, and none dared to wake her as her head tilted toward the window. Her body fought the urge to fall flat - and her neck craned her head back up, snoring quietly. She was dead asleep where she was, and it would be rude to wake her.

Two guards watched quietly at the doorway, whispering softly to themselves.

“Fifty bits says, her horn smashes the window - and she wakes up.”

“No way. I say she puts a hole in the glass - and doesn’t wake up.”

“Nah, c’mon man. She can’t be that heavy of a sleeper.”

“She literally slept through the Changeling Invasion. She’s a brick. Watch.” The pegasus guard cleared his throat, before shouting at the sleeping Princess.

“Moonbutt! Your mane is ugly!”

WHAM! The Unicorn guard’s hoof slammed into his shoulder, making the pegasus hiss in pain. “Do you WANT us to lose our jobs?”

“No! But look! She hadn’t budged an inch,” he growled, rubbing his arm. The Unicorn tilted his head, unsure - but that insecurity soon turned to curiosity.

“Okay. How about this? I dare you to tickle her nose with a feather, one hundred bits if you do it, Fizzle Wing,” he said, cracking a smile.

“Woah now, there’s a difference between yelling and tickling - I’d like to not be flayed alive.”

“What are you, chicken?” Scorch chuckled. “You know, you’ve got the rep as the clumsiest guard in the Castle - keep this up and I’ll tell the men how you’re afraid to tickle Princess Luna in her sleep.”

“Oh come on - if it’s so easy, you do it! A hundred bits says you won’t.”

“Oh yeah? Watch me.” Scorch’s horn twinkled as he snatched a feather from Vapor’s wing, a soft ‘ow’ following. The unicorn did little to stifle the sound of his hooves, as he stepped behind Princess Luna.

“Wakey wakey, Princess.” The Unicorn smiled, tickling her nose in the moonlight. Suddenly, Luna wheeled around - eyes flashing with rage as a blast of energy erupted in the throne room.

Harmony crashed through the ceiling, erupting in a rainbow cloud that shocked and stunned the once calm world. Every single window, every single door of the castle - rattled and blew open, off their hinges, or to pieces - as the forms of Arin and Celestia crashed into the throne, breaking the mahogany and gold-leaf painted platform to shreds.

Princess Luna crashed into a wall, concussed - before laying limp on the floor. Scorch Shot was knocked clean out of the window - his body skidding across the moat before crashing into the chilly Prancetember waters.

In the Library, Tempest stopped comforting Twilight at the loss of her mentor, as nearly every book jostled from the shelves and rained down upon them.

Down in Canterlot, foals screamed - and adults toppled out of their beds, as windows cracked and panes shattered.

Vee stopped preening. She then stood, and instead started preening at the coffee pot as her magic set to work making a fresh batch for the road. Pumpkin fell out of her bed, yelping as Onyx’s purple and black aura sheltered the windows from the blast.

The animals nestled in the quiet castle gardens fled for the hills, the pillars of the mountains cracked and shifted - debris tumbling into the moat below. In the distance of Ponyville, lights began to flick in windows, as pets howled and ponies stirred.

Every single guard, neigh - every single soul inside the castle, converged on the source of the noise; the Throne Room itself. Twilight and Tempest teleported there, beating them by just mere seconds.

“P-PRINCESS CELESTIA!” Twilight called, wings billowing as she dashed for her Mentor’s side. Celestia gasped for breath, shaking from horn to tail as she spun around in the remnants of the throne, kicking debris off of her. Arin groaned in agony, pulling himself off of his battered wings. Tempest joined his side, leaning quietly over him.

“I suppose this means you were… successful.” She smiled. Arin rolled his eyes, shoving her away by the snout. The wine colored mare chuckled, before turning to the chaos of bodies to help the Solar Princess distangle herself from the shattered throne.

Magic coursed through Celestia, as she once again set hoof in the material plane. Clutching her chest as her ember painfully drew at the ambient magic around her; sucking the very heat from the air. Vapor Cloud shot into the room, clutching Sun Song tight in his muzzle - before it clattered to the floor.

“P-Princess! You’re alive!” he gasped, bewildered - as dozens more guards filled the scene. Pegasi and Unicorn alike charged the mess, ripping debris and freeing the two as Twilight’s hooves held tight around Celestia’s chest. Crying into her patchy fur.

The pink maned alicorn - in the throes of recovery - quietly hugged back, stifling happy tears as she was reunited with her former Student once more. Even Vapor Cloud charged in for a potent hug - several guards also rushing to the unconscious Luna’s aid.

This left Arin to fend for himself, but it was to be expected. He wasn’t an extremely valuable Princess after all, so it was common sense that he would be tended to last. He felt a hoof dart under his arm, hefting him to his knees.

“Honey Rose?” he sparked. She giggled.

“The one and only! By the way, next time you pull an acrobatic stunt like this - mind keeping it down Hon? Sweet Dreams needs very sweet dreams to not cry all night.” The Earth Pony chuckled, as Arin stumbled up to his legs.

“Oh yeah, next time I’ll just knock at the front door, my apologies,” the battered Seraph chuckled.

“See! Not that hard once you set your mind to it. By the way! I am not cleaning up all this glass.” Miss Rose pointed around the Day Court’s halls, leaving Arin scratching his head at the devastating mess.

“Oh! Honey, have you heard anything about Umbra? I had a dream, and… I think she’s been-”

“Kidnapped? How’d you?... You know what, I’m not gonna question it. Yes, she’s been kidnapped - no, I don’t know where - no, I also don’t know if Vapor Cloud knows where - and yes, I would love a big hug from you right now, I missed you to bits, you clumsy idiot!” She seized him in her hooves, much to his surprise.

“Sorry, sorry, I know I’ve been out and about. And on the moon, or something magical like that. But I promise! I’ll get better.” He gave a solem laugh, running his fingers across Honey’s golden cheek. She never was one for personal space, and it showed when she squeezed him tight enough to pop his back.

He’ll get to the dire importance of rescuing Umbra once the guards weren’t in a panicked rush. For now, breathing fresh air and making sure everypony was alright took priority, if only for a minute.

By now, Luna had begun to stir in the pile of guards, who had placed her in the recovery position - stretched out on her back, her neck in a stable hold until medics could arrive. After a short apology to Honey, he darted for Luna’s side - sliding on his knees towards the injured Princess.

“Luna? Are you okay?” he asked, genuine worry in his voice. In this moment, he didn’t care if their relationship had problems - there was still love, and she still deserved his attention. He propped her head up, regardless of his training as a White Mage to not do that, to hold her closer to his chest. “Talk to me, tell me you’re alright, my love.”

Her eyelashes fluttered, slowly sliding open to reveal the all too terrifying irises of something he never wished to see again. Cat-like slits hid behind her lids, as the guards fell back several inches in a wave of magical induced fear. An overwhelming sense of dread overtook him, as he dropped her and panicked - scratching at the floor to make distance. The other gold clad warriors, upon seeing this - did much the same, backing up as the shape of Luna made it slowly to her hooves.

Darkness wafted off of her, as the mood of the room churned in a frenzy of bubbling terror. Tempest and Twilight, both tending to Celestia’s wounds - abruptly stopped as their eyes darted to the pooling darkness in the corner. Vapor Cloud - sensing something was horribly wrong, pulled free of his titan’s grip hug on Celestia, his eyes scanning for trouble. And trouble he saw.

A soft, quiet laugh started, as Luna’s body cracked and shuddered. Bones expanding and melding into a new form; a darkness that haunted dreams. Her wings stretched into black tarps, batlike in appearance as the feathers shed and rained on the floor.

Arin broke from his stupor, darting to Celestia, Tempest, and Twilight’s side - as the guards formed a phalanx wall around them. Vapor Cloud fetched Sun Song, and stood in front of the shield wall. Honey Rose attempted to flee - but the throne room doors slammed shut before she could in a blast of blue magic.

“My my, don’t leave just yet my subjects. My return celebration has only just begun!” Luna howled in a terrifying cackle, rising to her full, new height - as Nightmare Moon.

The guards all froze in terror, as her very presence was enough to wreak fear on the uninitiated. Arin, unarmed save for his dagger - knew he had no chance of fighting her, and instead grabbed Celestia tightly in his arms, readying to fly at a moment’s notice. He felt the familiar tingle of energy pouring inside his body, as he could bask once more in the magic-rich energy of the Material Plane.

“Please, my subjects. Consider yourselves lucky. For I am in such a splendid mood. You see, I have waited for this day. Practiced for it. Studied it. And I am pleased to admit that only one Princess has to die - the rest of you may join my cause. As the proper, true ruler of not just Equestria - but all of Equis, you may bask in my moonlight for all eternity.”

Nightmare Moon’s horn began to twinkle with the soft blue of night, a gentle flash erupting over the guards surrounding her. Immediately, they all tumbled to their side - soft snores and gentle slumber filling the room.

Over two thirds of the entire Royal Guard, downed in one spell. Leaving a dozen sparse bodies between Celestia, Arin, Tempest, and Twilight.

Magic energy swirled in Sun Song, as the Nightmare slowly approached the last of Equestria’s defenders. Vapor Cloud retaliated first - along with six bolts of magic from the remaining Unicorns - as his blade sang with burning heat.

His wings pumped at the air, clearing the short distance near instantly. A barrier erupted around her, the spells vanishing against her shield as Sun Sung toppled to the floor. In that moment of confusion, she countered his charge with a single lunge - catching the Pegasi’s chest with her horn.

A scream from Honey Rose broke the deathly silence, as Vapor Cloud - Arin’s companion, training partner, and fellow Knight - gave a shocked, shivering gasp. Before tumbling to the marble tiles with icy tendrils soaking into his chest. He gave one last kick, and the string of his life was severed.

“Mm. I have no use for a Solar Knight, I’m afraid. Disloyal and impossible to control, without the right touch of magic. And from my experience, I can say much the same for a certain Lunar Knight, as well,” she said, the blood on her horn freezing in mere seconds. It shattered and fell to the red carpet below her, as she knocked the body and blade to her left with a flick of her horn.

Honey Rose darted for the corpse of her husband, her lover, the father of her foals - tears streaming freely down her face as she clutched his lifeless body in her grasp. She had seen death before, moved corpses and dealt with grievous wounds in her past - but she could forget that pain by the morning.

You can’t forget a love this strong.

The rest of the guards dashed forward, but it was pointless. They, too, fell into a potent sleep. The regal black Alicorn stepped over their still bodies, as Twilight’s horn flashed to teleport the survivors free - but it failed. Icy spirals of magic encompassing her horn before the spell could complete. And with another flash, she was imprisoned in a cage above Celestia, Arin, and Tempest made of solid arcane power.

A quiet knock at the throne room door stopped Nightmare Moon in her tracks. The terrified survivors of the onslaught watched as she turned her head to the hallway.

For some reason, she had the nerve to unbar the door from her magical hold. Perhaps out of curiosity - or for some kind of twisted fun, as a Purple pegasus flapped her wings inside. Coffee in purple magic, tailed by an orange Earth Pony riding a broom.

“Good evening, your Scary-ness.” Vee said, flapping right past the mourning Honey Rose. Pumpkin landed by her side, hugging the crying mare close. “I’ve come to complain about the moonlight being too noisy. It’s ruining my preening.”

“...What?” Nightmare Moon stood, appalled. Did… did she not fear her? “...The moonlight is too… noisy.”

“Yes! Much too loud, makes the ears hurt and the feathers cold, hardly optimal preening weather.” Nightmare Moon’s eyes travelled between the group of cowering royalty in the corner, Arin and Tempest simply shocked at the gall of Vee - then back to the purple pegasus who was sipping at her coffee.

“I beg your pardon?” Nightmare Moon stated, raising a hoof in absolute, enthralled confusion.

“Oho! Then beg.” Vee sipped her coffee. Her purple eyes flicked between the group and a nearby shattered window - as if saying ‘now’s your chance to run’.

Twilight quietly motioned in shock at Celestia, Tempest and Arin - telling them to leave her. Celestia shook her head, but Twilight nodded aggressively - and the Princess below finally submitted with defeat. Arin quickly motioned for Tempest to come closer - and when he did, he grabbed the near Princess-sized Commander. Silently tossing her out the window, and into the chilly moat below. Celestia was the next to follow - who plunged into the icy waters next.

Gently, Honey Rose entrusted Vapor Cloud’s sword into the hooves of Pumpkin, who stuffed it into her hat. Pumpkin, in return - clipped a necklace around the dead stallion’s neck. Infuriated, Nightmare Moon’s full attention had settled onto the Pegasus who so bluntly confronted her.

“How dare you stand upon the cusp of my victory - and spit such vile words at your Queen. Are you not afraid? Does my presence not strike terror into a mortal such as you?”

“D’ohoho! Not so much the second time around; the first was awfully spooky, Jerk-face. You burnt down my house in Hollow Shades! Bold of you to stroll into MY MATERIAL PLANE, and-”

A wave of sleep magic slammed into the purple pegasus, who didn’t so much as blink. Instead, she sipped her coffee. “...come into MY COLLEGE, and break MY preening fountain, because a flunky couldn’t pass her potions exam.”

“That…” Nightmare Moon’s brow furrowed in anger. “That was over six hundred fifty years ago! My disciple - you-!”

“Me! Hmhmhm.”

Pumpkin floated quietly out of the room, as Nightmare Moon and Vee had a staring contest. The onyx mare’s horn sparked and cackled, before she tilted her head down - and slammed a blast of freezing magic into the much too brave pegasus. The sheer size of the wave erupted out into the Main Hall, freezing the Grand Chandelier solid mid-swing far behind her.

When the blizzard waned, the panting Nightmare Moon gazed in abject horror as Vee, covered in a layer of frost - was completely unaffected. Save for the fact that her coffee had frozen solid.

“I’ll take the bad weather as a ‘no’ on snooting away my moon problems.” Vee dropped her cup to the floor, which shattered to pieces - before turning around and calmly flapping her wings out the door. Leaving a befuddled Nightmare Moon to stare after her.

“But… how?” she questioned. As Vee made her way out of sight - she tumbled from the sky. Caught quickly by Pumpkin's magic, the purple popsicle of a pony was entirely encrusted in a layer of ice.

As the shock wore away, the vile queen turned back to face her now non-existent victims.

…

Needless to say, there were several new rage-induced holes in the Castle Walls, Honey Rose and Twilight forced to bear witness to the Onyx mare’s anger.

“...No matter! My throne is secure, and Equestria is now mine. I can now commence the next step of my plan, to insure my legacy for all eternity.” She dangled Twilight’s cage in front of her, laughing through her jagged teeth. “And a new plaything to keep me company through these lonely nights! Now, where to begin?...”

Twilight’s gaze pierced through Nightmare Moon with a burning intensity, sneering at her Captor.

“Oh? No words? No faint musings of hope, ‘my Subject’? How boring. But! I have time. As much time as I need, to turn you obedient. And with my lesser half’s essence within me, what fun we’ll have doing so.”

Her horn sparkled brightly, Twilight’s resistance steadily fading as exhaustion began to seep in. Eyes growing heavy, the Princess of Friendship collapsed inside her cage - lost to the dream realm.

Hanging the prison directly above the ruined throne, her attention fell to the sobbing mare. “You! Peasant. Be rid of my castle, and take your dead with you. You serve no purpose to me besides a pointless distraction. Begone!”

Honey Rose, clutching Vapor Cloud’s hoof - was quick to obey. She slung her dead stallion over her shoulder before galloping for the door.

Now alone save for the sleeping, soon to be loyal guards - her attention could focus on perhaps the most important matter. She turned to the window, channeling the years worth of stored Alicorn magic into her horn - and connected to the holes in the Lunar Plane she so preciously maintained. While impossible to escape through, as the Banishment kept her trapped within - the rings Harmony had punched in the fabric were the perfect start to her new plan.

The air around them began to chill, as the moon turned a pure, soft white. It would take time, hours - days, perhaps weeks, but the split in reality was solidified. A hole in the stars began to form, intensifying the distant beauty directly overhead. A wave of her oh so familiar Lunar magic began to flood the world in a seeping winter, spreading quickly at first outwards from the origin - to gently encrust the night sky in a dark, wondrous beauty. The Lunar plane cracked and spilled over, flooding the world with its impactful magic; magic she now had complete and total control of.

Finally, victory. No amount of ‘friendship’ or ‘harmony’ could change that. She would seal her rule, when the final night crested the far horizons - to the World’s Edge, and beyond.