A Clone Gargoyle's Equestrian Tale

Adventures Begin: Mare in the Moon

Malibu and his friends settled a bit from their shock before something else bright pink and familiar appeared before them; the pink pony from before. She had a big smile on her face.

"Surprise!" She squealed. Malibu smiled slightly, but raised his brow. "Uh, what's your name, how come you ran away earlier?"

"My name is Pinkie Pie! And I threw this party just for you! Were you surprised? Were you?"

Twilight was taken aback from her spunky/hyper manner. "Very surprised! Libraries are supposed to be quiet!" Pinkie laughed.

"Silly! What kind of place would this be if it were quiet? I mean duh, boring!"

Malibu spoke up again. "But why—?" He started before she began to ramble on.

"I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were all hello and I was all like (gasp) remember? You see I never saw you three before and if I never saw you before that means you're new, and probably new to Ponyville!"

Twilight flattened her ears while going to get a drink. Malibu did his best to follow what Pinkie was saying but she talked so fast it was hard.

"And if you are new you must not have any friends, and if you didn't have any friends that means you three were lonely, and that made me sad. So that's why I went (gasp)! I went and threw this spectacular welcome party to welcome you to Ponyville!" The other four ponies they met showed up then with smiles. "See? And now you have lots and lots of friends!"

Malibu noted Twilight pouring the wrong drink and drinking hot sauce. Her face was all burned up, sweat pouring down her face, trembling. Applejack looked concerned.

"Are you alright, Sugarcube?"

Twilight didn't reply, smoke coming out of her ears and running away. Malibu grinned awkwardly at the other 5 next to him while Spike looked at the drink she drank, hot sauce.

Malibu then said he would go check on Twilight and told the others to enjoy the party, going upstairs to find Twilight having doused a glass of water and curling up in bed, a sad frown on her face, tears still coming. Malibu's heart twinged, coming toward her.

"Hey, Twi?" He asked carefully, a gentle hoof on her shoulder. Twilight turned to him.

"Why did she send us here, when we could all be in danger right now?" She asked tearfully. Malibu then decided to get in bed with her, and offered a wing hug that his momma used to do. She snuggled into it gratefully now realizing she had needed it.

"It will be ok." He said in a gentle voice, unsure of how to answer her. Twilight's eyes kept watering when she smiled a little at the teal alicorn, the two just laying together for a time. Spike had peeked in and spotted his two friends comforting one another. He smiled gently, going out again.

After a time she saw stars coming close to the moon, tapping Malibu's shoulder and pointing. Malibu noted this, eyes widening a little.

The two went to the window. "The stars will aid in their escape, and she will bring about everlasting night!"

Malibu's ears lowered. "D-do you really think she can come back at this very moment?" He asked nervously. "I'm hoping it really is just an old pony tale," Twilight replied in fear, as Spike called to them.

"Come on, guys! It's almost time for the celebration at the Town Hall!" He said. The two looked at one another then followed the baby dragon down to their destination, everypony having gathered there already.

Malibu looked around to see how much of the party was put together and was impressed, happy that soon he was going to see his mother again. But he looked up at the moon, those stars getting even closer, hoping they'll hurry.

The mayor, a light brown mare with a gray mane showed up after Fluttershy opened with her bird music.

Mayor Mare made her speech for the Summer Sun Celebration, the ponies cheering. He felt Twilight nudge him and looked up again at the moon, but the four stars around it were gone!

Oh no, the former gargoyle clone thought in dread.

"And without any further ado, Princess Celestia!" Mayor Mare exclaimed. Rarity pulled back the curtain with a rope, but there was nopony there!

What? Where's Momma? Malibu cried silently, mouth open in surprise, everypony else gasping in terror. Mayor Mare tried to calm them in earnest.

"Remain calm, everypony. There must be a reasonable explanation for this!"

Pinkie bounced. "Ooh! Ooh! I love guessing games! Is she hiding?" Malibu looked back at her with a hard glance. "Not the time!" He said angrily in worry. Pinkie looked down apologetically. Rarity went to look in the back but couldn't find Celestia. She returned.

"She's gone!"

This caused the ponies to look scared. Malibu was scared the most, hoping his mother was ok. If Thailog had somehow come and teamed up with Nightmare Moon... he didn't want to think about it. But he thought about something else; did Thailog discover by now that one of his precious clones was missing? This made the teal alicorn swallow nervously. He hoped not. The ponies could be harmed by Thailog who would only want to get through them to get Malibu back under his control.

His thoughts were interrupted when black magic smoke swirled up out of nowhere. Rarity moved back away, until a bright flash revealed one pony that Malibu thought he wouldn't ever meet. It was his Aunt Luna, or now Nightmare Moon.

Malibu kept near Twilight as the black alicorn smiled devilishly at everypony, flapping her wings. Spike had fainted off Twilight's back.

"Well, my beloved subjects! It has been so long since I had seen your precious little sun loving faces!"

Rainbow was pissed. "What did you do with our Princess?!" She demanded, trying to rush in but Applejack held her back. "Whoa there, Nelly!"

Nightmare snickered. "Why? Am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?"

Malibu decided then to step up, eyes narrowed. "You're my Aunt Luna! Please let her go, Nightmare Moon!" He shouted. Nightmare tilted her head, then smirked.

"Hm, so you must be the one whom my weak sister adopted, isn't that right?" She crooned evilly. Twilight spoke, too. "I know who you are as well, Nightmare! And don't do anything to hurt him!" She said in a brave voice. Malibu gasped a little when feeling levitation get a hold of his body, moving him close to Nightmare's face as she studied him over.

She traced a hoof along Malibu's chin. Malibu wiggled, but couldn't get out, despite being an alicorn but Nightmare Moon was too strong.

"How does it feel to be suckering up to my worthless sister, my precious nephew?" She purred in a sinister way. Malibu's red eyes suddenly glowed. He still had that even as a pony.

"Nopony insults Mother!" He shouted angrily. Nightmare used her magic to suddenly squeeze his body, making Malibu yelp out, the other ponies looking worried for him. Nightmare chuckled then.

"You don't have to live your life trapped in her shadow like I did... maybe I can bring you under my wing. The choice is up to you."

Malibu whimpered, eyes watering in pain. "No... love... Mother. Mother... loves... me..." he croaked. Twilight didn't know what to do, feeling scared for her friend's life.

Nightmare then threw him to the floor, winded. "Very well. But, I still see potential for you to become mine. Once I take care of Equestria first then I will deal with you, Nephew Malibu. Remember this day, little ponies. For it was your last! From this moment forth; the night... shall last... FOREVER!"

She began to cackle loudly. Malibu's body trembled in pain from her hurting him, hoping his Aunt Luna was still in there somewhere fighting Nightmare Moon for getting control of her body back.