Thirty Minute Pony Stories

The haunting laughter echoed out of the ruins of the castle as Nightmare Moon stood over the fallen form of a mare, the normally pristine white coat splattered with red, the flowing mane now ragged and covered in soot. With a stomp and a laugh she shoved the unmoving body off the balcony and onto the floor below. It fell into the lone column of sunlight that streaked through the cracked and broken roof, surrounded by the now despairing and wailing ponies.

“My subjects!” She shouted, a gleeful tone in her voice. “Your beloved Celestia is gone, her treacherous ways shall no longer restrict you from adoring my glorious night!” She leaps from the balcony, landing in front of the still body of her sister. “But do not despair my little ponies! I am a generous Queen and shall allow you to keep your precious day. For it is I, and I alone now who controls the sun!”

Nightmare Moon struck a pose, head held high with an all too smug grin on dark face. “But there shall be changes to come, many changes to benifit both you and myse-“

A gasp arose from the crowd as the column of light that surrounded Celestia turned into shade of red that reminded them so much of the blood that covered their now deceased Princess. The Queen of the Night looked on in horror as the light began to fade at an alarming rate. In no time at all the room was covered in darkness.

“Do not fear the darkness my subjects!” She raised her head to the sky to see if her moon had risen as well, and was shocked to find that the sky only held a single orb of the same sickening crimson that the light had turned.

Her horn started to glow and she began to will the moon to rise, if only to remove the offending celestial body from her conquered sky. Her jaw went slack and her eyes widened as nothing happened at all, she could not feel the moon nor the sun. There was absolutely nothing.

The ponies were panicking, crashes and desperate cries for Celestia came from all around her. She focused more power from her soul, forcing the magic to work as it had done for her for so long. And yet, nothing at all. The noise rose in volume and number, even she began to panic quietly when the strangest thing happened.

The room exploded with light as six voices cried out at once.

All looked up to see the Elements of Harmony floating in the center of the room, just above the fallen form of their Princess. All six stared down at Nightmare Moon, rage and an unsettling look of pity in their eyes.

Nightmare Moon took a step back in fear, legs shaking violently as Twilight Sparkle’s eyes rolled up and began to glow. She willed the shadows into action and urged them to cover her in darkness so that she could escape this vengeance. But it was too late, the rainbow was rising up into the sky, looking less like the double helix that had ensnared her last time and more like a spear. 

With a cry she flapped her wings and began to take to the sky, hoping against all hopes to escape the shining light that jerked towards her at a terrifying speed. She had time for one last scream of terror before the rainbow pierced through her.

The Princess of the Night fell out of bed, struggling with the covers, her vision obscured by the blanket that she had managed to wrap around herself, and by the tears that continued to flow freely down her face. With a sob and a grunt of effort, Luna ripped the blanket in half and scampered out of the tight binding, her hooves clacking in a chaotic beat.

-TIME-

She stood for a minute, panting and sobbing as the tears continued to fall, waiting for the shudders and her erratically beating heart to fade. Luna climbed wearily into bed, and just like every year, began the arduous task of willing herself back to sleep.

Have to at least get some sleep, she mused to herself, don’t want to miss the celebration in Ponyville this year. Even as she calmed down, her gaze turned towards the window, watching the moon she so loved continue its slow descent from the sky.

“Only three more hours to go. Perhaps I can dream of something else on this horrid night.” She chuckled softly, a bitter expression on her face before she sighed and lowered her head, wishing for at least something resembling rest.

After all, she was down to two blankets again and if last year was anything to go by, she’d be out at least one more before needing to awaken her sister.

Norse Pony’s comments: Ooh, nice. I like this take on Luna, her lingering horror at what she wanted to do. It’s a sensitive interpretation of her. I also like the concept that Celestia’s death would have, essentially, broken the world. I’m a fan of short sharp fiction, so I just really liked this story, overall. Fine work.