The Mane Twelve Chapter 1 - The Rebirth

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Magic. Try and break free. Luna tried to open her eyes, to make her horn glow, to leave in a flash of light. Her powers... it's like they're not there to aid her. Teleportation, telekinesis to stun the abductor... it was all worthless. Nothing worked...

Her body wasn't rubbed against the floor. They had stopped. Luna felt the touch of the pony go and she fell to the floor, the knock on the head throwing her unconscious. It seemed like hours after she had woken up. Her head felt like a million tons. She slowly opened her eyes. She wasn't blinded by the glow of the sunlight. Instead, the room welcomed her with its darkness, the only light source being the rays of the moon showering her from a crack on the ceiling, just above her. A figure from the darkness slowly approached Luna and looked at her with an empty look. He came closer, her head being a breath away from hers. His wide open eyes stared at hers.

"F...Fo...Food..." he roughly spoke, struggling to form the word.

His appearance was devastating to look at. His eye color was blank, dark and he seemed restless, as though he had never slept. There was a stitch that ran down his right eye. His horn has cracks on its surface. It looked like it would snap. His skin was ruined. There were cuts all over him and chunks of his own flesh were missing. His wings were also missing almost all of their feather. His coat was painted in the green of the sickness, and it was covered in dirt. He raised his hoof to reveal that it was no longer covered in skin. Instead, his bone had revealed itself, baby maggots crawling on it. He slowly patted Luna's head. His lips stretched to the back, forming a weird grin. Luna froze. Her body felt numb. She wanted to run away but she just couldn't. As if she was bound to the floor with an extremely powerful spell.

"Our lord... is so tiny..." Luna could feel his deep breath. 

"Famine! Stay away from the mare." A voice coming from the dark slightly yelled at the stallion.

Famine turned around and looked at the darkness. Luna could see his mouth shaking. Did he fear the voice? He turned back to look at Luna. He looked at her with wide open eyes and a half-open mouth. He gently bowed, his expression not changing at all, and slowly moved away from her, just like he had approached her. The mysterious male voice stepped away from the shadows and into the light of the moon. The stallion was a white Alicorn with a slightly long, shiny, golden mane. On top and around his head, he wore a golden olive branch. His body was dressed in a silky, light grey tunic. He had a calm expression and looked at Luna, his dark blue eyes gazing at her with respect. An Alicorn such as him, Luna wondered, what is he doing here...? The stallion walked towards her and bowed before her.

"My lord," he said with no hesitation. "Welcome back..."

"T-This is some sort of misunderstanding. I am not a lord. I'm Princess Luna..." Luna didn't hesitate to speak to him. He sounded sincere. If he was who he seemed to be, he would respect her words.

"I'd like to beg the differ my lord." said the Alicorn, his head still bowed.

"You heard her Pestilence," a rough voice almost yelled at him.

The Alicorn, Pestilence, raised his head and gave Luna a warm smile. Luna quietly gasped. He gently bowed his head one more time and turned around to face the stallion.

"War, show some respect towards your master." he replied, remaining calm.

"Face the facts Pestilence, she's not our lord yet. She's just a fragment of the Fallen God...!" The stallion stomped his hooves and walked close to him.

The third Alicorn, War, was an extremely buffed stallion, with a crimson red coat, like the blood tat surged in his veins. His mane was the color of the raging fire, full of bright red and yellow. His eye glew with the same color as hot air exited his nostrils. His chest and hooves were covered with golden armor and a huge, double sided axe flew and swirled behind him, covered in gold aura.

"I have faced the facts, my dear War, yet I have the decency to at least show the slightest of respect to our lord, even in this fragile form." He gave him a weak smile. War breathed heavier, more hot air coming out of his nose.

Famine, War, Pestilence. These names were beginning to sound familiar in her head. Luna could not explain it, but, even though she had never seen them, she could feel a sense of familiarity around them. Those weren't ordinary Alicorns. She looked at them, now with slight shock. 

"Y-you..." Her mouth was shaking. She tried to speak but she couldn't find the words.

"It's no use remembering little filly." said a forth voice, "One who has been separated from the True One cannot just return to his memories and journey through them, as, like a mirror, he is just a crack."

The final Alicorn revealed himself. A pony with a pitch black coat, like the darkness Luna feared so much. His face was hidden behind a blank mask, with only two eye holes. Behind them, a pair of glowing golden eyes, piercing through Luna's skin. A creature shrouded in a long, withered cloak, with no clue what's really hidden behind.

"D-Death..." Luna felt petrified, even to say his name.

The three Alicorns looked at Death. He walked towards them and looked at Luna, his golden eyes staring right into her soul. 

"Death..." They repeated his name

Death looked at each of them individually. Famine lowered his head. War's lips formed a wide, menacing grin. Pestilence gently bowed. Death focused his sight on Luna again. The light of the moon made his long, grey mane shine.

"I am glad to see you again... my sister."

Luna looked at him in shock. This monster... her brother? Impossible. A creature so malevolent like the divine and endless Death, related to Luna? Why didn't Celestia ever talk about him...? 

"I am disappointed. A simple form as you might be, you could still know of the bond that every Alicorn shares with the whole." 

Death summoned an enormous and powerful scythe, extremely sharp in the edges. It was slightly damaged and a little rusty from all the ages it was used to rip the souls off of innocent ponies. He looked at it, his image reflecting on the metallic surface. He looked at Luna. He pointed it at Luna, then swung it down on her. Luna shut her eyes. She slowly opened them to find that she hadn't died. Instead, she was free. She wasn't bound anymore. She could feel the grip of her hooves touching the ground.

"You are a part of the grand turn of events." said Death. "Come," he continued, "let us talk in private." he concluded and turned around. He started walking towards the darkness.

Luna stayed still for a while and looked fade into the darkness. She then faced the other three. Death's hooves stopped, yet he didn't turn around.

"Your purpose is waiting..." 

"Y-Yes." She replied hesitantly and ran towards him, yet still keeping a small distance between her and the Alicorn. 

As they walked down the corridor, there was complete silence. All that could be heard was the weak sound of the wind. Luna felt herself shivering. It was Death's aura. Luna had a gift when it came to recognizing auras in ponies, their Magic Energy surging out of their bodies, defying them. Death's however. It felt both strange and unusual but so familiar and friendly at the same time, like he really was related to her. And she felt the same wit the other three Alicorns. That confused Luna. The two Alicorns walked outside. The land was covered in sand. The weak winds that Luna heard were huge sandstorms surging around them. Luna gazed at the distance. Two creatures suddenly popped out of the sand. Their appearance was like that of a pony's. One of them opened their mouth and revealed sharp fangs. It let out a shriek that echoed through the land. A scream was heard from the opposite direction. Multiple ones could be heard now. Luna looked from left to right.

"W-Where are we Death...?" She looked at him.

"Our existence in this Land of Demise is rather... temporary, as one who has reached above the rest leaves and never comes back." he replied

The two ponies kept walking through the sandy plains. Luna could still hear the grunts of the creatures as they attacked each other, struggling to kill one another. After what seemed like hours of walking, they had reached a crystal clear lake, with not even a grail of sand on its surface. Luna stepped forward, close to the lake. She turned her head and looked at Death. He seemed to be looking at the creatures. 

"We are fascinating creatures... Alicorns." Death stopped and grabbed a pile of sand with his hoof. "Divine creatures with no sense of belonging..." He let the sand go. It flew away from him. "It's only natural that they choose to follow the flow of events when they leave their origins."

He noticed Luna looking at herself in the waters. She didn't pay attention to anything that hapenned around her. Death approached the lake as well.

"Ah," he said slightly excited now. "The Lake of Confrontation... What is it that you see in its reflection...?"

"I just see... Luna." The Princess of the Night calmly replied.

Death raised his hoof forward and above the water. His hoof begun peeling the skin and the crimson liquid started dripping, slowly falling into the lake. The water lost its color and went black, like muck. His hoof regrew its skin as Death lowered it and hid it behind his cloak.

"Now you can gaze upon your true self and face the truth behind the real Lord of the Night."

Luna looked at her reflection as it slowly shifted into a different creature. It was completely dark creature. It grew fangs and claws and its now bright red eyes looked at Luna like she was its worst enemy. Luna looked away, closing her eyes.

"Looking somewhere else than your true destiny only makes you angrier, it only develops the darkness and hate towards yourself."

Luna hoped that it was all a hallucination. She turned around to gaze at her reflection again but no sooner had she turned than the beast came out of the lake and pulled her inside. Luna could hardly breathe, struggling to see inside the dark waters of the lake. 

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It was a voice. It was a feminine one. Luna turned around and around, desperately trying to locate the mare, but she couldn't see anything. The lake suddenly glew bright and white, faceless ponies appeared all around her.

 The ponies started talking all together.

Luna couldn't stand all the accusations. She shut her ears and closed her eyes, yet she could still hear them. All her guilt made her lose her breath even faster. Her heart was beating like the crazy. The voices were still echoing in her ears. Luna shook her head, tried to deny everything. No, I'm not a monster! She was going to die. Like this? Being accused by crimes she didn't commit? Please, stop. I didn't do anything! "What did I do...?" Luna whispered to herself. The ponies didn't stop. Stop! Stop! 

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Death had sat down, near the lake, next to a dry and old tree, that seemed to have been chopped down by time and the terribly strong sandstorms. He looked at the lake one more time. He saw a hoof ascending from the depths. It was Luna. She was coming out. As she rose, Death gave out a grin from behind his mask. 

"It's pleasant to have you back...Queen of the Darkness, Nightmare Moon."

Nightmare Moon had risen once again from her ashes. Defeated by the Elements of Harmony, she was once again alive, with flesh and blood. Death's grin got even wider. Nightmare Moon's appearance seemed more sinister than her past. Her coat was darker, the darkest it could get, with eyes full of resentment, the look of a dragon carved on them. Her armor, shining like the moon itself, was crafted from hardcore Obsidian, with spikes coming out of it. Her mane was contained the stars, swimming in a pool of blue aura. 

"It is indeed stimulating to be back." said Nightmare Moon with an arrogant smile.

"Come Nightmare Moon. Your part is about to commence..."

Nightmare Moon nodded. The two Alicorns started walking into the dessert. As they were strolling, they looked around, at the mindless creatures staring at them, unable to touch them. 

"Once an Alicorn decides to leave everything behind, it's only natural that he is not a part of this world anymore." Death stopped walking. He gazed upon the moon and his golden eyes shined from behind his mask. He looked down, at Nightmare Moon again "It is time for your part..."

"What is it that you mean brother?" said Nightmare Moon, looking at Death with wonder.

Nightmare Moon suddenly felt her heart beating faster. In a matter of seconds, it ceased beating. She grabbed her chest and coughed, struggling to keep herself up. She could hardly breathe. Her hooves gave up on her as she collapsed on the sand.

"Neglect your past and accept your future. For then, the Truth can finally show its face on this world." Said Death to Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon couldn't stand the pain. She fainted. 

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Nightmare Moon found herself inside a big room, but it was empty. Its color was bright blue, like her night. Squinting her eyes, trying to see till the end of the room, she could see another pony looking at her. Nightmare Moon started walking towards the mysterious pony. As she approached it, she started to realize her location and the pony that had joined her. The pony was Luna, Princess of the Night. The mare pointed her hoof on a random spot and a table flashed out of nowhere with three chairs. 

"Sit Nightmare Moon. We need to speak."

"I don't make negotiations with inferiors." said Nightmare Moon arrogantly.

"Hm." Luna sat on one of the chairs. "You took over me again."

Nightmare Moon looked at Luna with a look of superiority. She grinned.

"I am stronger and way more clever than you, mare. What makes you think I'm not powerful?"

Luna smiled as she looked at the ground and turned around.

"From this here location, you came out, and I came in. You were watching me all this time. From inside..."

Nightmare Moon looked at her with curiosity.

"What are you implying...?"

Luna looked at Nightmare Moon. Her look was calm. Nightmare Moon's, on the other hand, was serious, focused on Luna. Luna looked at the third chair. "Did you wonder why there are three chairs here...?" Nightmare Moon didn't seem to care. Her look was still focused on Luna. "You took a seat when I got up. And now that I sat down, you got up. So... why are we both sitting now...?"

Nightmare Moon raised her eyebrow. Her eyes suddenly opened wide. "T-then...!"

"The Lord of the Night... It's neither one of us..."

"Liar!" Nightmare Moon stomped her hooves on the table. "You jest. I am the true ruler of Equestria!"

Nightmare Moon felt a cold aura behind her. She hesitated to look. Only one pony could have such an aura. She gulped. Death walked away from Nightmare Moon and close to Luna. The Princess of the Night kept looking at Nightmare Moon. Death put his hoof onto Luna's soldier. The mare begun glowing, her whole body slowly fading into dark blue sparkles. Nightmare Moon looked in shock at the sight.

"You served your part, Shroud." Said Death to Nightmare Moon. "Now it's time for the Pure to be resurrected..."

Luna gave Nightmare Moon a weak smile. Nightmare Moon was taken aback. 

"Goodbye, Nightmare Moon..." Luna faded into a flood of dark blue sparkles.

"N-No!" Nightmare Moon stomped her hooves and got up, pushing her chair back. With just a blink, Death had vanished. 

Nightmare Moon looked around, desperately trying to find Death, or Luna, or anypony. She could only feel the cold of the dark blue sky.

Nightmare Moon pushed the table aside and stomped her hooves on the floor. Her eyes glew with anger and she gritted her fangs.

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Nightmare Moon's eyes opened wide. She was back to the World of Demise. She got up. Death was sitting at the sand and watched two newborn Alicorns eat themselves. He was silent. The edge of his scythe was sunk in the sand and his mask was hanging on it, at the end of the blade.

"Death..." Nightmare Moon whispered.

Death raised his head. He took his mask, put it on and turned around.

"You are... complete now. Seraphim has been reborn... Gaze upon the one thing that you're bound to... and you will be indeed... complete..."

Nightmare Moon said nothing. Instead, she realized that actions spoke louder than words. She raised her head and looked at the moon. An image suddenly flashed inside her head repeatedly. It... it wasn't clear. Nightmare Moon couldn't make out what it was. Her vision blurred and her body started aching. Her eyes blackened and her skin turned shiny black, with her mane turning dark blue as her fangs grew slightly bigger in size. She could hardly speak. Her movements were uncontrollable. Death gazed at her transformation as he slowly got up and picked his scythe. The new Alicorn lied on the sand with eyes closed.

"Welcome to the world of existence, Nightmare Chaos."

The creature opened its eyes, revealing a pitch black color and raised itself. It focused its sight on Death.

"D-De-Death..." The Alicorn spoke.

"Save your words Nightmare Chaos" Said Death. "Let us walk back. My brothers need to be informed of your creation."

They begun walking back to the facility they came from. Nightmare Chaos slowly followed Death, with a skeptical look on his face. As they entered, back into the room where they came from, the three other Alicorns looked at the stallion.

"Ah, my lord. You are, once again, back." said Pestilence and bowed.

The vile creature gazed at him and its dark eyes pierced his soul. Pestilence stepped back. War kept quiet and stood in detention. Famine lied down and looked at his new ruler, keeping his mouth shut, afraid not to cause any more damage to himself. 

"My brothers, my Ponies of the Apocalypse, hear me." said the creature, now being able to talk, "I have seen the future, and it's in our favor. The New Chaos Republic will be brought back to life, as I was. Prepare yourselves for a journey to Equestria. Pestilence. War. Famine. And Death..."

Pestilence nodded and gently bowed before him again. War gave out a huge grin and Famine seemed quite excited now, forming another awkward grin. Death didn't speak. 

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