The princess's fanatical student. A startlingly honest bootlegger. A prissy high-class escort. A traitor caught between two loyalties. A hyperactive pyromaniac. A quiet assassin who can kill with a word.
The night that has covered Equestria for a thousand years might just be coming to an end. And all of these familiar faces will be engulfed in the war between a victorious Nightmare Moon and her sister, returned from a millennium of exile.
Even as the sun rises, the situation has never seemed so dark.
This story was edited, preread, and otherwise improved by Einhander, Comrade Sparkle, CartsBeforeHorses, Spigo, and IR Pony.
Chapters (15)
You weren't lying when you said it was in a different vein than your two Pinkie stories.
I'm a sucker for some good AU, and this is good.
I like your view on what the main six's personality and cutie mark mean in such a different setting, Fluttershy especially. Looking forward to seeing more of this.
Lots of editors.
Continue.
3169461
I can promise more Fluttershy, definitely. Things are gonna get moving.
3169463
Editors make everything better.
Kudos to me for the Cover art.
3170748
You're cited as the source. Hover over the picture and click on "source".
Good job with the story!
This story has more favorites than upvotes. I find that odd.
Well, you did not disappoint with this story.
I guess I'm going to have to continue reading.
~Tempered Metal
3171137 happens all the time. I know I'll upvote but not fave to even it out
3171287
Thanks! Feel free to favorite it, though.
3171137 I would venture to guess a lot of people favorite to read later, or withhold their upvotes until after they've read more chapters.
3171339
Sounds plausible.
I'm really looking forward to this one.
Wow, story definitely earned it's dark tag, but looking forward to more.
3172144
I will deliver, Sopchoppy.
You've got my attention.
Hmm.. this is now #25 on my list of read later's.
I shall look forward to reading this when it's got more chapters to it.
3171339
That's me.
Oh man, this does right what so many others did wrong.
3179228
Care to elaborate?
3179456
I can try.
It's a 1:1 flip of the show, you didn't veer off in your own direction.
Point to an element in the show that appears in this, and it matches.
Ponies dominating and literally smothering the land, instead of living in harmony.
Luna as an uncaring taskmaster with fairly blunt methods.
Spike as a mute muscle.
Fluttershy willing to assert her will unto death.
Rainbow Dash the traitorous captain.
Applejack the deceptive business mogul.
Rarity the self-interested wh- ahem. I've been advised not to finish that one.
Pinkie Pie the... um. Ok you have me there, but I'm ABSOLUTELY certain that I'm going to love the "Surprise Party". Especially if you opt to literally set Twilight's hair on fire.
Miiight wanna tone back the Flutter-focus a little, but eh.
3179738
He put a lot of work into each of these choices, I assure you.
3179738
In the interests of accuracy (and so a certain armed brony doesn't decide to visit vengeance upon me) I feel obligated to note that Rarity is, in fact, a madame, and hasn't been established to, ah, actually get involved in the dirtier side of business.
Fluttershy will continue to remain a focus for at least the next couple of chapters, mostly because Flutterspy is so damn fun to write.
As for Pinkie...
All will be revealed.
On a final, general note, it's really not exactly a one-to-one flip. The characters have kept their motivations (to at least some extent) and their personalities, as far as the world has allowed them to. The plot is also not going to either echo or be the complete opposite of the show's first plot arc. I just set up the premise: what the characters do is out of my hands, metaphorically speaking.
Nice but confusing, every one is a sol? Like every one? Even Twilight, which is the twist....
3184242
Where did you get that impression?
Twilight is working for Nightmare Moon. Applejack is working with Twilight. Rarity is looking out for #1. Fluttershy is a sol. Rainbow Dash is a double agent, being in the Night Guard but having loyalty to the solar cause, sort of. Pinkie is D.) none of the above.
3184274 Yeah but the twist is Twilight has been a sol all along and is a super double agent, willing to kill her parents to keep her cover.
Ps. I know your story better then you do..... For I have seen into the past, present and future! Yeah... No
3184290
I don't usually do spoilers, but I'll say this much: one double agent is enough.
3184994 you would say that if you yourself were a double agent.... Yeah, ok your right.
3185864
Thank you.
Also, thanks for favoriting.
3185888 I'm just hoping that every thing explains its self.
3186037
Beats me. The story will go on.
3186372 As all stories must.
3188322
In the darkest part of my heart, I want this story to end like The Departed: with everyone, good and bad, dead and betrayed except for Mark Wahlberg, who was only betrayed.
In this scenario, Fluttershy is Mark Wahlberg.
3189281 Sadly I don't know who your talking about but it sounds interesting, what book are you talking about?
3190712 I feel like I'm being trolled, but it won the Oscar for best picture in 2006 and stars Nicholson, Dicaprio, Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin and Martin Sheen.
3190910 I don't know what movie your talking about then, tell me the name please.
3191255
Willsons, my dear man, you're not terribly bright.
Einhander:
.
3191259 Indeed it would appear so, I am sorry for wasting your time with this meaningless prattle.
This is brilliant. The premise alone was interesting from the description, but now that you have set it up....WOW. It's just so smart! The roles you gave each character, the flipping of element traits while still holding true to each individual personality. I mean, those parts where we are just hearing the one-sided conversations! You don't even need to say a name and we know EXACTLY who they are, just by the way they talk. Not many writers can capture the characters so well as to do that.
I'm just so impressed by all the thought that went in, it's just damn clever. I really, really, really want more of this! Please don't keep us waiting too long! For the meantime, though, have a favorite and a like.
*I do have one teeny-tiny thing I noticed though, you described twilight as the time before the sun rises....It's not. (that's dawn) Twilight is after the sun sets and before the moon rises. I would think this would flip Twi's perception of her name. Eh *shrug* I do understand what you were doing though. I flipping LOVE Twi's backstory!
3200297
Thanks for the fave and the like! I've already started working on the next chapter. If all goes well, it should be out by the end of the month.
Re: Twilight- it can actually go either way.
3201643 Yay! More chapters!
I stand corrected!
And Twilight,
3201682
More chapters indeed.
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3215706
Ah, Pump It Up! The guy who favorited my story before it was even published!
I'm glad you liked it.
Wunderbar Meine Freund.
3216931
Danke!
Another all around great chapter. The intricate twists and turns (especially that last one) is keeping me hooked.
Even darker? Sounds good.
*monotone* Aaaaaagh cliffhanger.
3244914
To my knowledge, all the chapters will end with cliffhangers.
Yay! More confusing layers.