New Reign - Rising Dusk and Dawn

[risingduskanddawn]

Just a Nightmare

DuskDawnAU

Alternate Title: When the edgy, megalomaniac aunt comes to visit

Story below the cut.

Since ancient Equestria, mothers told tales of the evil Mare in the Moon; Nightmare Moon coming to haunt their childrens' dreams if they were ever disobedient over bedtimes. Most fillies and colts believed the tale, while the more daring ones attempted to tempt fate by staying up for as long as their young, tired bodies allowed them to.

Things were no different at Canterlot Castle, where two young princesses were told the same old tale by one of their nannies, if not by Empress Celestia herself, however reluctantly. For a first-time mother with little to none experience, the trick was helpful to get her children to bed, as much as it stings her lonely heart to do so. Princesses Sunset and Twilight would scramble to bed almost immediately at the mere mention of the name of the feared mare.

It worked, until the girls stopped believing that going to bed on time would grant them protection.

For nothing could protect them from the guardian of dreams herself.

While her embodiment was locked away, trapped on the moon - her spirit roams free, waiting for the right moment to make herself known. Princess Sunset Shimmer - heir to the sun and first-born daughter of Empress Celestia, dreamt of darkness during one fateful night.

On the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.

The prophecy echoed in her dreams. It continued to do so for several days - until she saw her; a dark coated mare with an ethereal mane so magical it flowed by itself, floating midair in a place scarce of wind. She emerged from the darkness, with a look so gentle in her eyes that the filly would have given her a warm greeting if it weren't for the spine-chilling surroundings. The strange mare loomed over her, so tall that she could almost surpass her own mother in height.

"Shh young one. I mean no harm." The mare cooed at the sight of the little princess's shaking figure. "For I could not cause harm in the dream realm."

This mare is an alicorn. Sunset had never met an alicorn other than Empress Celestia and Princess Cadance, and from that experience, they are plenty powerful. If she wanted to, this mare could burn her to ashes. Should she be afraid? Is this mare dangerous?

"I sense you have questions, young one." The mare spoke again, a slight edge to her voice as she silently struggled to maintain her form.

Her curiousity defeating her perception for caution, Sunset nodded. "..W-who-.." She gulped, taking note of the dark mare's muzzle lowering itself to match her height.

"Who am I, young one?" She questioned delicately. The little filly nodded again, trying her best to not appear too eager. A little information is always a golden opportunity in any circumstance.

"I am but a myth." She cooed again, folding and unfolding her wings as if proving to Sunset that she is real. "You may know me as Nightmare Moon, as I have been rumored to haunt dreams, and some have claimed for my sihouette to be visible on the surface of my prison; the moon."

"A-are you..? A rumor?"

A smile. For a split second, Sunset could see malice haunting the ancient mare's features before it immediately shifted to a far kinder look - a look one would see on an overbearing grandmother. "Tell me, young one. Do you believe I am such? Could your dainty, youthful mind possibly conjure such a magnificent being such as I?"

"I.. guess not. Usually I just dream of being on a walk with my mom, spending time with my sister or learning some ultra cool magic stuff... Oh, sometimes I dream about becoming the next Emp-" At the stranger's look of detest, Sunset ended her rambling and lowered her gaze, ashamed and fearful.

"Do you know why I chose to visit you tonight, young one?"

"Are you.. r-real? I thought you're just a dream."

"That I am not." The mare exhaled patiently, recognizing the amount of patience conversing with the filly is going to take.

"O-oh..." The little princess backed a few steps as she realized how close the mare had gotten to her. Unfortunately, it only took a small stretch of the neck for the older alicorn's muzzle to remain only a few inches away from her own. There is no escape. "Why are you here?" Sunset braved herself enough to ask.

"Why am I here? Better question is, my child; why are you here?"

"Huh?"

"I am Nightmare Moon, the figment of power I was denied. I was borne from desire; a desire to rule, to gain power, to be loved - the presence of whom deserving to be relished by many throughout the generations." Her eyes glowed white, so bright that it illuminated her dark face. She forced her facade into Sunset's vision, her pupils narrowing into slits as she did so - the light so hypnotizing that the filly was unable to look away. "I would not have been able to enter your dreams tonight, Sunset Shimmer - if you do not have that in your heart as well."

"I... no!" The filly screamed, pulling away from the contact. "My momma taught me to be good! To be a good princess, a good sister!"

"But your sister outshines you in so many ways, does she not?" Nightmare Moon pushed on, her voice now back to the soft coo she held upon her initial appearance. "You could be so much better, you could be loved so much more. You could be admired-"

"No! I'm happy where I am." Sunset contradicted. "I have so many things to be grateful for. I can't ask for more!"

"That is what your precious mommy told you, is it not?" However impatiently, the gentle, reassuring coo is not lost in her voice. Nightmare Moon attempted a strained smile despite the annoyance she felt. "My dear Sunset. There is so much more you could get out of life. So much more that you deserve."

"I... I..."

"Wouldn't you just love to sparkle much, much more than your sister? Wouldn't you love to just loathe her?"

"I love Twi-why. She's my sister! I could never hate her!"

"Not even for your fair share of love from a mother?" The mare's pupils had returned to its original shape, though the discomfort it created earlier remained.

"Momma loves us equally. She said so." Tears had started to form in the filly's eyes. Nightmare Moon smiled at the sight of the princess's misery.

"My dear," Nightmare Moon pressed, "A mother lies."

That is when Sunset stopped listening, stopped caring, stopped bothering to even try and understand the nightmare she is experiencing. Is her heart really that selfish? She is far too young to have such thoughts. Her mother raised her to be good. Her mother told her she is good. Could it all just be a false truth, all for her to be misled to a path her mother had so ambitiously carved for her, further away from her destiny?

"Alas child, you are about to return to the waking world. I shall not be able to remain here any longer." She heard Nightmare Moon's voice echo into the void. Her sight had become so blurred from the tears, all she could see is endless darkness.

"Please stop leaving sweets in my wake. It is a mockery to be offered such pleasant offerings, but not be able to satisfy my taste-buds with such luxury."

Then there is silence. All Sunset Shimmer could hear is her own thoughts; thoughts so intruding it plagued her mind and body; causing her to shiver non-stop, not allowing the river of tears to end. She didn't realize when her consciousness had returned to the mortal world, or if it even did. She didn't feel her sister shaking her quivering body, didn't react when she ran out of their bedroom in a panic. She isn't aware of anything, until a soft warm glow brought her back to full consciousness.

Her mother's face illuminated her view, and her cries of horror immediately dissipated into cries of relief. She clung to the Empress like a lifeboat, refusing to let go. This is reality, and she didn't want to lose it.

"M-mom- Momma... Th-there was t-this mare...-"

"Shh, my love. It was just a nightmare."

A nightmare. Nothing more.

[risingduskanddawn]

DuskDawnAU

One is never meant to outshine the other. Before the girls were born, Empress Celestia couldn't be more ecstatic. She went to great measures to ensure that her pregnancy goes well and that her child's development went as normal as possible. When she found out that she was expecting twins, she thought it couldn't get better. Sunset and Twilight were born at nightfall, a night when the moon was at its fullest. Upon setting eyes on the skylight, her newborn daughters bundled up and snuggled in her warmth - that was when she knew; Nothing could've prepared her for the future.

[risingduskanddawn]

DuskDawnAU

"Being royal is great! You get to have whatever you want for breakfast, have breakfast in bed, make forts out of your breakfast... but you don't get to choose how long you get to stay in bed."

[risingduskanddawn]

DuskDawnAU

"Oh mom did you see me tonight?? Did you see how well I did??? The moon didn't swing right out of its approximate circular orbit this time!"

[risingduskanddawn]

DuskDawnAU

"Mom?" "Mmm?" "We're pals, right?" Celestia laughed. "Right." "We'll always be together, right?" Silence. "...Sunny, let me tell you something my mother told me. Look at the stars..."

[risingduskanddawn]

Tough Love

DuskDawnAU. Story below the cut

"Mom!" The youngest alicorn shouted in surprise and horror. When Empress Celestia had taken her daughters to a discreet area; a forbidden land known as the Everfree Forest, she had claimed it was time for them to begin training. Princess Twilight assumed it was to put her knowledge of magic to the test. She had been practicing and training all her life, hitting the books every chance she had. Yet this was not what the two sisters expected. As soon as they landed, full of eagerness and excitement, her mother welcomed her daughters with a cold, emotionless look and lashed out at the older of the two sisters. Princess Twilight had never seen her kind, elegant mother harm a fly, let alone lay a hoof on her sister. Princess Sunset felt stinging pain on the left side of her face. Her eyes watered almost immediately upon impact. "I expected you to be more prepared." Was all their mother had to say. Gritting her teeth, the amber alicorn was at a loss for words. Princess Twilight ran up to her and glanced at her cheek, not failing to notice the bruise that was making itself known. That would be hard to hide and explain to their subjects. "Mom?" Princess Twilight questioned, almost in fear. She knew better than to speak without being addressed. Empress Celestia gave both of her daughters a long look, as if observing them to their deepest core. "Twilight." She called. "Y-yes...?" "What can you tell me about wars?" The filly gulped. "Wars... definitely not peaceful. There was a time before Equestria came to be - the three races; Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth Ponies were at each others' throats constantly, refusing to believe in unity. They were almost at war so many times, until they finally learnt to get along and formed Equestria. Equestria has histories of being threatened and invaded since then, but so far, no wars. Lives were lost and we did suffer damages though... In other words..," "We fight and sometimes die to defend our land." Her sister finished. Princess Sunset had one hoof on her cheek, with a wing held up to her face in an attempt to ungraciously wipe the blood casually flowing out of a nostril. The Empress sighed; either from disapproval at the idea of a war or displeased with their answer. Despite that, she had to remind herself that her daughters are still young. Both of them had a long way to go. "The reason I brought both of you here today - I need you both to realize, my princesses, that there is more to life than studying. Books may give you answers. But ultimately, it all will lead up to your own actions." The mare leveled her gaze to the two princesses, allowing them to see the grim expression her face held, but not missing the gentle look in her eyes. "But... why?" Princess Twilight spoke up, still afraid of angering her mother. She gestured to her sister, who had now ended up with a smudged face instead of a clean, blood-free one. Her wing feathers were stained with some of the dried liquid as well. Empress Celestia gave her elder daughter a sad look and magiced a handkerchief out of nowhere. After casting a spell to will it to be wet, she levitated it towards Princess Sunset. The filly hesitated momentarily before accepting the soggy item. "The key to never get bested by your opponent... is to stay on guard. Be alert, stay strong, and you will win the battle." "So the point of all this was to not get me whacked in the face?" Princess Sunset asked, almost mocking. Princess Twilight nudged her. "Were you even paying attention?" In return, she received a sharp glare. "You aren't the one with a bloody muzzle!" "Calm down." Empress Celestia sighed again. She couldn't fathom why she decided to have children, knowing the costs. Her daughters are almost teenagers, and according to the weekly magazines 'Mother Mares', teenagehood is the worst phase a foal will go through. What's worse; she will have to deal with two at once. "Come over here, and let me tell you a story." Her children immediately obeyed, scrambling over toward her, eyes gleaming with excitement. Children, she smiled. Why do they have to grow up? "Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria. There were two regal sisters who ruled together, and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest; used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger, brought out the moon to begin the night." "There were sisters?! I didn't know there could be two rulers at the same time!" Princess Twilight gasped. Princess Sunset poked her sister with the tip of her horn. "Shhh!" "Ow! Sorry! Sheesh." Celestia allowed a small smile before returning to a stoic composure. "Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. As time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought fourth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness; Nightmare Moon." At the revelation, both fillies gasped. Empress Celestia went on with the story, as if reading it off of an invisible book. "She vowed she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponykind; the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and vanished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility over both sun and moon, and harmony had been maintained in Equestria for generations since." "Whoa." Princess Sunset exclaimed. "She must be really sad." Princess Twilight said quietly. "Yeah. As annoying as you are, if I ever have to banish you, I'll miss having nopony to plan my pranks for." "Thanks?" The Empress loomed over the girls, clearly not done with passing the information she long wished to give. "Sad as it is, the story is one of truth." "You mean, it happened? It's real?" The older filly looked around fearfully, as if the evil mare will pop out of anywhere anytime. "Nightmare Moon?" Her sister asked. "Unfortunately, the story isn't of the utmost truth. As most stories are, when retold, storytellers recount what they remember, not the exact facts. But in our case, as royals, we intentionally change the stories, as the truth may cause harm. If our subjects know that the banishment is for a limited time instead of permanent, as the old ponytail states - we could cause fear and panic. Which is why, my loves-" The Empress wrapped her wings around the fillies, bringing together the dusk and the dawn of their pelts. "I need us all to prepare. As much as how crucial knowledge is, out intellectual skills will have to match our physical abilities." "There's going to be a war?" Princess Sunset asked, snuggling closer into her mother. "There's going to be a battle." Her mother corrected. "We must win the battle, for if we lose, a war may erupt. The truth to life; we won't always be able to remain in harmony. As rulers, we have to fight to maintain that harmony." The young mares stayed quiet as they digested their mother's words, thinking through them carefully, counting all the threats and possibilities. Neither of them are trained or prepared for battle. The prospect had never even occurred to them until this very moment. The many times their mother had tried to get them interested in fighting tactics, battle strategies, et cetera. The reason as to why finally came clear to the young minds. As protectors, Equestria is theirs to protect.