Chapter Text
The luminous moon cast a pale glow onto the dark landscape. The night had an enigmatic beauty, with twinkling stars piercing through a velvety, violet sky, but Rarity had no time to admire it: she had very urgent news, and very little time to deliver it. Racing along the road from Ponyville, through the Everfree forest, she couldn’t focus on anything around her, as the trees and path blurred into a smeared haze.
It helped that the uniform she designed was breathable and lightweight—however, it was never intended for severe exertion and the unicorn could feel its limits being put to the test. The bat wing like fringes on her sides wobbled with every bound, and her collar chafed her neck as she galloped. Despite the discomfort, Rarity could not stop; she was a pony on a mission. From her outfit to her abrasive demeanor, she was a far cry from who she used to be before the age of permanent night.
Finally, in the distance, the shape of the royal castle became visible in the moonlight, rising from the forest like a half remembered dream or long lost fairy tale. Three tall, overwhelming spires pierced the night sky, the center one topped by a golden crescent ornamentation. They jutted like monoliths from the dark cerulean roofing of the palace, above where the daedalic remainder of the structure stood as the foundation. In any other circumstance Rarity would’ve found the sight of it staggeringly grand, even enough to stop and contemplate. Tonight, though, she didn't care at all.
She soon could see the main tower in all its detail, having reached the front. Though she had arrived, she didn’t slow, only stopping when the grand double doors blocked her path. When she came to them, she rapidly banged her hoof against them.
“Open up! There's no time to explain!” Rarity shouted. She paced anxiously, a hoof up to her mouth, nibbling on the edge. With a groan, the doors opened, not at all fast enough for the desperate mare. Before they could even extend out fully, she shoved herself through the crevice, and lunged in.
Inside the main hall were two of the royal guards clad in their midnight blue armor. They jumped to attention, and snapped their spears to the ready as she dove into the castle. Seeing the Princess’s top designer huffing and wide-eyed, they lowered their weapons. She scrambled to her hooves and slammed the castle doors shut.
“What the—we almost skewered you!” One of the guards exclaimed. He shuffled on his hooves, switching the spear to his other shoulder.
“There’s NO TIME! I must see the Princess, RIGHT NOW!” Rarity exclaimed. She glanced at the door again, and then turned to face the guards. “Whatever happens, no matter who comes to that door, do NOT open it. You hear me? No-pony gets through!”
The baffled stallions nodded, knowing better than to get on Rarity’s bad side. To make her upset would mean making the Princess upset, and neither wanted that to happen. “Got it Ma’am. We’ll keep an eye on the gate.”
Rarity grumbled, but said nothing else. She turned and trotted off, heading deeper into the castle. She jogged through the halls, eyes scanning every room for the Princess. “Now where could she be?” Rarity whispered to herself, a look of annoyance sweeping over face when met with yet another empty hallway or uninhabited chamber.
Walking through a smaller archway, Rarity found herself in a great hall extending far ahead of her. It was ornately decorated with all manner of astrological paraphernalia, all of it complimentary shades of nocturnal blue. The most demanding of attention, though, was the throne: an ethereal styled seat as imposing as it was beautiful, detailed with sweeping wings and lunar crescents. And sat upon that throne, was the end of Rarity’s search.
“Ah, my ever faithful subject. Prithee, show the proper respects, then explain what has you in this flustered condition.” Nightmare Moon spoke, her voice smooth and regal. The words stopped Rarity cold, like a brick wall to the face.
Rarity dropped down to her front hooves, bowing before Nightmare. “Your Majesty, luminous ruler of the eternal night—it is I, your loyal subject Rarity!” she said, raising herself up. “I bring warning of a great danger that has presented itself to your kingdom.”
Nightmare Moon, tall and slender, her mane flowing like a star filled ocean, only tilted her head, remaining silent. Her feline-esque eyes looked over the unicorn that had presented herself, eyeing her up and down, reading every minute detail with no sign of haste. She cleared her throat, and sat up straight.
“What tales of danger do you bring to me?” she asked, her voice unwavering and unbothered. Rarity took a breath, hesitant to speak in Nightmares presence.
“They came from Canterlot. We had no idea, they—they just arrived, pretending to be traveling merchants. But they weren’t… they…they were…” Rarity’s quivering voice seemed to have no effect on the emotions of the dark alicorn. “They were not merchants. They weren’t ponies either: they were something else! It was an invasion, in Ponyville!” she added.
Nightmare gave a small nod. “What were these invaders, if they were not ponies? There are many enemies of my kingdom, but what creature would be so bold or, even capable of such a surprise attack?”
Rarity paused, thinking to herself. Before she could respond though, she was interrupted by an echoing slam from behind her. She swiveled around, a strained terror washing over her face. Hoof steps pounded the stone floor, drawing ever nearer. In mere moments, a third pony had entered the scene.
“Changelings! Changelings attacked us, my liege.” came the voice of the newcomer. Limping in from the archway, was another Rarity, dusty, bruised and sporting her purple mane in a disheveled bun. “And now one stands before you.” She added, thrusting an accusatory hoof at her impossible twin.
Despite the absurd sight of two Raritys, Nightmare was unfazed, if not somewhat amused. “That is apparent,” she said. Her eyes lingering over the new Rarity, betraying none of her inner thoughts. “I imagine you both wish to plead to being the real Rarity, to me, hoping I believe you,” She leaned forward, putting her head between her hooves in dramatic anticipation.
The twin Raritys were simultaneously caught off guard. They looked between themselves, a deep sense of disgust from seeing the other. Messy Rarity spoke first. “Princess of the eternal night, glory of the cosmos that shines in the darkness, May the night be forever.”
She sat on her haunches then, leaning herself forward in deliberate, reverent fashion. The first Rarity scoffed, taking a couple steps towards Nightmare Moon.
“Can you believe this? Groveling to you in desperation? She must think you’re a fool to buy this act.” She smiled confidently. “I’m the real Rarity of course. I mean, come on—you know I am. You must!”
Nightmare’s grin deepened, baring her ivory fangs. The first Rarity shrank back, unnerved. Nightmare threw her head back, leaning over the armrest of her throne, and began to laugh, the joke not apparent to either Rarity.
“Oh, you absolute dear. It's you who takes me for a fool.” She brought herself up, her back square against the throne, her face a twisted, smiling visage, somewhere between a pony and a monster. “I knew the second you bumbled in. you may wear Rarity's uniform, but you clearly portray her poorly. Really, you should be ashamed to think you could do her justice. Tsk tsk tsk.”
The first Rarity backed up to the archway, her voice caught in her throat, the muscles desperately strained. She shook her head in disbelief. Besides her, messy Rarity remained still, keeping her kneeling position.
“But…but how? How could you know?” she stuttered. As her back reached the entrance, the two royal guards suddenly appeared, blocking her exit. She snapped her head to them, coming to a realization: she was trapped.
Nightmare stood up from her throne, sauntering over to her. “It was simple really. Rarity has the gleam of a visionary in her eyes, and carries herself with dignity. Even immediately after a clear fight she remains properly lady-like and distinguished. You may wear her clothes, but you do not wear her soul”
Standing over ‘Rarity’, who found themselves cowering before her, Nightmare smiled even more wickedly. “Let’s not forget, either, that you failed my passphrase. What is it you said? ‘Your highness, brilliant empress of the night’?” She cackled. “A pathetic appeal to my authority. And a clear signal that you were a pretender—any pony in my ranks knows it’s ‘May the night be eternal’.”
A ripple of magical energy went through ‘Rarity’, revealing the true nature of the imposter. Still wearing Rarity’s uniform, the creature was completely revealed. The thing was a dark shade of gray, and for the most part seemed to resemble a pony. Instead of a true mane or tail, though, it had tattered fringes in their place. The creature was also dotted with countless perforations, predominantly in its legs. It pulled its ‘hooves’ to its face, and it refused to speak.
“So, this is a Changeling?” Nightmare leaned down, bringing her face to the carapace of the thing. She examined its features, noting the ‘horn’ and wings: a poor mockery of an alicorn. The princess brought herself to the Changeling's face, which was obscured as it hid in fear beneath its legs. “Look me in my eyes.” she commanded.
The creature hesitantly lowered its appendages, its eyes were almost glowing, alien and blue. They were wide open and unable to look away from the domineering alicorn that threatened it. As Nightmare brought herself closer, the changeling quivered, vulnerable and exposed, the brush of her ethereal mane sending shivers across its body.
“Such boldness. Invading my kingdom, assaulting my personal designer, stealing her face—and still you dared come straight to me? Was it courage? Confidence? Or just idiocy?” Nightmare stood up, towering over the changeling.
She raised her attention to the guards. “Take this thing away from me. We’ll need to get some answers out of it, whether it wants to give them or not.” she turned around and made her way back to the throne, the guards obliging their princess.
They grabbed the shaking, frightened mess of a changeling and dragged it out of the throne room. As soon as they left, the real Rarity stood up. “Your highness, I must apologize. If only I had gotten here sooner, this wouldn't—”
“Do not apologize.” Nightmare interrupted. “Whatever its plan, the changeling could never have convinced me. I have faith in you enough, Rarity.” The Princess once more sat upon her throne, her head leaning on her hoof, unenthused.
“But, Princess–an intruder… they made it inside the castle–mere feet from you?” Rarity spoke, never quite able to understand Nightmare Moon’s fondness for risk.
“You worry too much. All was handled. I will need to have a ‘word’ with the guards, though.” Nightmare reassured. In truth, she had found the situation altogether amusing, especially compared to the droll peacefulness of the castle grounds. A would-be spy or assassin was nothing to her, and a sloppy one at that was absolutely no threat.
Nightmare Moon pondered for a second. “What of Ponyville?” she asked.
“Safe, for now,” Rarity said. “We held them off, but I’m sure they’ll be back.”
Nightmare glanced upwards, taking in the sight of her night sky through the glass ceiling. She sighed, and shifted in her seat. ‘A threat to my eternal night. No surprise, Ive always expected that.’ she thought with displeasure.
“We will soon have much to prepare for when they do,” She said, somewhat deflated. “You’re dismissed. Go rest as much as possible: tomorrow, we go to war.”
Rarity bowed her head, and without another word, left the throne room. Alone with her thoughts, Nightmare’s confident demeanor slipped, an uneasy knot twisting in her chest. War, Saboteurs, Surprise attacks: this wasn’t at all what she asked for when taking the ruling seat, deposing her sister of her crown and kingdom.
She pondered, looking through the glass ceiling, hoping to find even a smidgen of comfort in the cold distant stars. Soon, she knew she'd have to fight again to protect everything she achieved, and the thought of it frustrated her.
Somewhere, deep in her core, Nightmare suddenly heard a small voice speak. It was like a thought, but it seemed to come from right next to her, as if some pony were whispering in her ear. Her fur stood on end, and any comfort she had before, no matter how small, vanished.
‘Luna,’ the voice beckoned from an unknowable depth within her. 'There's still time to stop this, please.’ Nightmare felt disgusted by it. She buried the voice with a simmering rage, unwilling to acknowledge it at all.
In the now silent hall, Nightmare Moon sat on her stone cold throne. Determined to ensure her everlasting reign of eternal night, with all that had just occurred, she suddenly felt something she once was sure she never would experience. A brief flicker of emotion. Nightmare first felt uncertainty, and then fear. A fear that her kingdom would end. Fear that after all she had done, her sister's sun could rise once more. The future seemed less pleasant every step she took forward.
'I will not be undone. The throne is mine—and I will keep it,' she thought. 'May the night be forever.'