History FanFic / NightmaresAreTragic

* BittersweetEnding: As we know from "[[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E2ElementsOfHarmony The Elements of Harmony]]", Princess Luna is free of the Nightmare. [[spoiler:And she's at last found the [[{{Reincarnation}} new incarnation]] of her OneTrueLove Dusk Skyshine. Only ''this'' time he's a [[GenderBender mare]], Twilight Sparkle. And this isn't an EveryoneIsBi fanon. Luna's clearly ''hoping'' that they can [[ReincarnationRomance wind up together]] [[IfItsYouItsOkay despite this obstacle]] , but there's no guarantee that this will work for either of them. On a far larger scale, the Nightshadows are massing on the Moon, obviously preparing to launch a major attack against the Earth, and the damage done to her by the [[CareBearStare Rainbow of Harmony]] has robbed her of much of her memories of her time possessed, so there's no guarantee that ''anyone'' will survive long enough for hearts, flowers and foals.]]

* AndroclesLion: As in the original show with Fluttershy and the Manticore, but taken UpToEleven in that Luna is manipulating the manticore by direct neural linkage through her "thorn" form, and Fluttershy's mind control powers block, counter and then completely overwhelm Luna's control. After this, Luna frequently refers to Fluttershy as the "mind-witch" -- and with respect -- when thinking about her.

* TeleportersAndTransporters: Another Alicorn ability, and also one possessed by Twilight Sparkle even before she becamse an Alicorn. Celestia and Luna are both especially good at this, and Twilight manages to accomplish it at least once in battle.

* VillainProtagonist: This is fundamentally Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E2ElementsOfHarmony retold from Nightmare Moon's point of view.

* BadassPrincess: Luna, so very ''much'' Luna. She [[spoiler:overcomes her [[DemonicPossession Shadow rider]] in a [[FightingFromTheInside battle within]], tricking it, fighting it directly to save Twilight Sparkle, and then taunting it to distract it from the Element Bearers who are summoning the [[CareBearStare Rainbow of Harmony]] to destroy it]]. You rock, Luna.

* CheckAndMate: "I win." For extra BadassPrincess points, Luna says this to the Nightshadow while it's ''in the middle'' of trying to ''literally'' MindRape her!

* {{Magnetek}}:

* Magitek:

* [[Main/AdvancedAncientHumans Advanced Ancient Ponies]]: The ponies of the [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTales Age of Wonders]], from the point of view of the [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic modern Equestrians]]. Though Equestria's well on the path back toward that level of technology.

* [[AndManGrewProud And Pony Grew Proud]]: Specifically, the Ponies of the [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTales Age of Wonders]] attempted to power a global Wish spell with massive ''fusion reactors''. The backlash when the spell failed devastated the world and destroyed its advanced technological civilization, in the Cataclysm. [[spoiler:Actually, the spell ''worked'', and nearly destroyed the ''universe'' by crashing cause-and-effect -- the ultra-powerful [[ClockRoaches Cosmics]] intervened and [[RetGone eliminated]] that whole 'timeline' to salvage as much as possible, then caused the Cataclysm to create a new timeline where the Great Wish was never cast.]]

* [[TheChessmaster The Chess Mistress]]: Princess Luna is a brilliant tactician and -- once she's fighting a battle she can wholeheartedly believe in -- completely outwits [[spoiler:her possessing Nightshadow]].

* [[DirtyCoward Dirty Cowards]]: The Night Shadows in general, because they have no love even for their own kind and hence no willingness to risk death even for the good of their own kin. Luna [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this in her TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:

* [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]]:

* [[ChildhoodFriendRomance Foalhood Friend Romance]]: Happens between Moondreamer Finemare and Dusk Skyshine. They meet when Moondreamer and her sister Sundreamer are sent to a school and they wind up taking Dusk's part against bullies. When Moondreamer and Dusk reach adolescence, they fall in love, strongly enough that [[spoiler:Luna still remembers Dusk as her [[OneTrueLove great love]] four thousand years later, and uses this to break free of the Nightshadow's control]].

* HeelRealization: Almost happens early in the story, when Nightmare Moon's appearance utterly ''terrifies'' Apple Blossom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo (not yet the Cutie Mark Crusaders). Princess Luna is a FriendToAllChildren, so this ''really'' bothers her -- unfortunately, the Night Shadow clamps down hard on the train of thought that would lead Luna to realize that she is behaving like a monster.

* [[IntangibleMan Intangibility]]: Two examples in-story, which may actually be related.

* [[OmnicidalManiac Omnicidal Maniacs]]: The ultimate purpose of the Shadows is to consume all life in our Universe.

* [[TakeMyHand Take My Hoof]]: When Twilight is in her LiteralCliffHanger, Applejack risks her life by letting go of the protruding root and sliding to the edge of the cliff. Being an [[ActionGirl Action Mare]], Applejack times it perfectly and leans over to grab on to Twilight's forefeet -- with her own Earth Pony sucker pad / telekinetic grip. Which [[SubvertedTrope isn't strong enough]] to pull Twilight up over the edge to safety. Uh-oh.

* [[TeleportersAndTransporters Teleportation]]: Another Alicorn ability, and also one possessed by Twilight Sparkle even before she becamse an Alicorn. Celestia and Luna are both especially good at this, and Twilight manages to accomplish it at least once in battle.

* [[OneManIndustrialRevolution Two-Mare Industrial Revolution]]: What Celestia and Luna have been trying to accomplish since they started to unify Equestria, and what Celestia has to largely do on her own after Luna's rebellion -- namely, bring about a new Age of Wonders -- hopefully one that won't end in Cataclysm this time round.

//
Cue the Rainbow of Harmony.

-->Where are your friends now? the Shadow hissed, mocking her. Even I do not need you any more -- you are now more trouble than you are worth. You will die, here and now, alone in the dark, and I alone will inhabit this vessel. I will kill your friends, murder your species, destroy your world!//