The hulking monstrosity that was once Larry towered to fill the Chamber of the Dream Tree. His ebony wings did not even have room to stretch out to their fullest length to cover the breadth of the hollow trunk. Even from down below, a mere ant next to the Nightmare Dragon, Joe craned his neck and found himself staring into the fiery eyes.
The Nightmare Dragon let loose a mighty roar. It was more than a roar. The screech commingled in there as well. It was the same hissing screech that Joe had come to fear and despise. Heavy black smoke drooled from the Dragon’s black jaws. More smoke rose from its snout.
Joe had to cover his ears from the hideous noise, the vibrations of which clamped down on his body like a speeding train. When the noise subsided, Joe anchored his hooves to the ground and vehemently glared at the Dragon. He scratched his hoof across the ground.and bared his teeth. His throat had tightened itself shut and his heart was racing so fast that Joe couldn't tell where one beat ended and another began. But he was not going to give the monster the pleasure of tasting his fear.
With an earthy growl, the Nightmare Dragon stretched out his massive claws in an attempt to crush Joe flat. Joe manages to throw himself out of harms way just as the claw crashed down with frightening speed. The whole tree shook from the impact. Joe had never fought a true Dragon before. His dealings with them over his career were negligible since real Dragons tended to keep to themselves. The closest thing to a Dragon Joe had ever faced in combat was an artificial Dragon with stunted mechanical movements. This creature, although still not a true Dragon, was in every sense a living being. It’s movements were swift and natural. The pulsing, breathing nature of his shell squirmed like a grotesque muscle.
The hellfire of the Dragon’s eyes blazoned to life as the crocodile head arched back and deeply breathed. tongues of hot flame bled out from between the razor black teeth. With a guttural huff, the Dragon spat out a great ball of fire. Joe took off, hoping, perhaps in vain, to make some distance between him and the roaring explosion. The ball collided with the floor of the tree and the flames spread out across the floor like a blanket or a crimson wave. Joe tumbled himself across the floor as the heat caressed his coat. His flesh singed and he could smell the smoke that was once his fur pervade his nostrils. He stumbled against the numbness of the side of his body to his hooves. A circle of cinders where he once stood lumped his throat. A low grumble of what Joe perceived to be a chuckle came from the Dragon’s crocodile smile. Its fiery eyes were pleased.
Joe’s knees wobbled with weakness. The towering beast before him and the flame it spewed reminded him of an innocent Zebra reduced to a burning crisp. As he gazed up at black Dragon superimposed against the blanch white bark of the Dream Tree, it was like looking into the eyes of Tartarus itself. The tormenting fear prodded against Joe’s brain. His magic had been taken from him, his wings ripped from him. He was a crippled mouse standing before a hungry cat. A fly in the spider’s web.
Joe raised his hoof and pointed his watch towards the Dragon. Fueled by fear and desperation, Joe shot his tiny red beam of concentrated light at the Dragon. By the time the beam was close enough to touch the monster’s skin, or whatever it was he was made of, the laser’s strength weakened and dissipated. The Dragon lifted his paw and played with the tiny red dot that was projected on it. It opened its jaw wide, pointed at the ceiling and roared in what could be mistaken for anything but roaring laughter.
Joe was petrified. He had played his last card and it did little more than tickle. As he stood in a daze of frustration and helplessness, the massive black beast before him lunged with startling swiftness and finesse. Fast as a Wonderbolt, The Dragon swirled around in a circle. Joe had no time to react. A large muscular whip of a tail swung at Joe at full speed. The force of the impact sent Joe flying off his hooves. The flight was cut short when Joe collided with the wall of the tree. His already burned, soar skin rubbed against the rough bark as he toppled helplessly to the floor.
Joe shook his head to fight against the stars and blur. He stumbled forward against the pain for only a moment before he felt another great force crash down upon him. The Dragon had slammed his claws against the ground and trapped Joe between the mighty, sharp talons. Joe was squeezed tight in the monster’s grip. The Dragon wiggled his toes and played with the pony struggling to escape. He slid his paw side to side on the floor, whip-lashing Joe with the sudden movements.
As the predator played with its prey, Joe was able to wiggle free his front hooves. He prayed that this close range would make a difference. He placed the side of his watch right up against the Nightmare Dragon’s skin and fired the laser. The more condensed beam seared the Dragon’s skin. A tiny pillar of smoke rose from the point of contact. The Dragon bellowed and violently shook his paw until Joe was flung away like an annoying mosquito.
Joe bounced several times against the hard floor until he came to a tumbling halt. Joe fought against the sprains and bruises and willed himself back to his hooves. He glared at the Nightmare Dragon with building anger. The Dragon held its head low, squinted its eyes and curled its lips in a faint smile. Fueled by his rage, Joe charged at the Dragon at full force. He could hear the Nightmare chuckling at Joe’s futility, but he didn't care. He got as close as he could to the Dragon’s muzzle and transferred all of him momentum into his hind legs. Joe delivered an Earth Pony buck square into the monster’s jaw.
The Dragon barely flinched. It bared its black fangs dripping with black ichor and with the same startling speed as before snapped at Joe. Joe’s tiny brown tale was caught between the teeth. The pressure of the teeth against the flesh of his tail numbed his entire spine with pain. With a simple flick, the Dragon tossed Joe across the room yet again.
This time, Joe’s sliding was stopped when collided with the Nightmare Cage, still sitting in the center of the chamber. Joe used the Cage as leverage to stand up once more, although doing so was becoming increasingly more difficult. He looked to the cage. It was still open and still black smoke billowed out into the chamber. Lying next to the Nightmare Cage was a simple black fedora. During his struggle to regain his hoofing, Joe absentmindedly clutched the fedora in his hooves. When he did so, he heard a sharp growl.
Joe looked to the Dragon. It no longer smiled in amusement. Its flaming eyes accused Joe. It was kneading its paws restlessly against the floor. Rather is was delusion or ingenuity, Joe was struck with an idea. He carefully picked up the fedora and placed it on his head. The Dragon growled in response. Joe could see the anger wrinkling the leathery face.
The Dragon was still as a statue. It watched Joe with cautious intensity and he slowly moved across the floor, his eyes locked with the Nightmare Dragon’s. The Dragon took a decisive step towards Joe. In retaliation, Joe quickly took off the hat and held it against his watch. The Dragon halted its advance and took back its step.
Joe had never taken a hostage before. He thanked Celestia that he never had to take such a deplorable action on a mission before, and he wondered if this situation counted. Joe was about to hit the button on his watch when suddenly the Dragon lifted its legs high into the air. Its claws slammed hard against the base of the chamber. The whole tree shook from the force and Joe, in his weakened state, could not hold his balance. He toppled to the floor and the fedora fell from his grasp. The hat rolled along its brim for a brief moment before coming to rest a few hooves from Joe.
Joe try to stumble back up yet again, but this time it was too much. His body fought him like all of Canterlot Mountain was on his back. All he could manage was steadying himself on buckled knees. He looked up to the Dragon, once again taking in a deep breath. The formed within the monster’s throat. Just as the Dragon released its fire ball, Joe focused all of his desperation into his hind legs. Joe pushed off the ground against the crippling pain and lunged for the fedora. He could feel the heat of the fire as its ominous red glow enveloped the tree.
With the last ounce of strength, Joe grabbed the fedora and tossed it towards the Dragon. The hat and the fire met in mid air. The solid disturbance deflected the flames which petered into the smoke. The hat, meanwhile, was already mostly ash by the time the burning mass hit the floor.
The Nightmare Dragon roared louder than ever. Its cry was so ferocious that the very Dreamscape itself seemed to shake in terror.
Joe succumbed to his pain and laid on his side. He stared at the Dragon’s talons and he noticed a crack forming. A glowing red crack spread across the Dragon’s claws. Similar cracks appeared elsewhere on the dragon as it screamed in agony. The gruesome spider web of cracks spread until the Dragon was completely covered with them. The Dragon released one final roar as his body split apart from the cracks. The Dragon exploded into a massive cloud of thick black smoke. The smoke swirled around the room and the Dragon’s cry petered into several less intimidating screams. The smoke formed hundreds of serpentine Nightmare creatures that dashed across the chamber in agony. The Nightmare Creatures flew, or perhaps were sucked, into the Nightmare Cage in the center of the chamber. Soon all the smoke in the room returned to the cage, leaving the Dream tree Chamber still and silent. Joe heaved a sigh of relief.
But that relief was short lived. Joe noticed cracks forming on the outer shell of the Nightmare Cage as well. The chest, too, shattered and erupted in an explosion of black smoke. Where the chest once stood there was now a hole in the floor of the chamber. From this hole, a never ending cyclone of Nightmare Energy flooded the Dream Tree with darkness. Soon, the entire chamber from floor to ceiling was completely filled with the smoke.
A surge of adrenaline summoned Joe to his hooves. From the depths of the maelstrom of evil, Joe could see tiny black tendrils worm their way between the cracks of the bark. The rivers of water in the wood became perverted. They transformed from the translucent silver into streams red as blood. The pure white walls of the tree turned a sickening black.
Joe stumbled through the darkness. The smoke was only pitch black but thick as well. He could feel the pressure smothering him to the point where he was no longer sure whether his eyes were open or closed.
He swam and struggled against the darkness in the direction where he saw the portal from whence the Nightmares flooded. He knew he must have been getting closer, before the closer he got, the stronger the force became. Joe could see the portal through the darkness. The portal itself was somehow even blacker than the smoke that filled it room. It was so dark it almost glowed. Joe approached the portal. Although he couldn't see, he could feel the cyclone of Nightmares constantly rushing from within. Beyond the circle that was darker than darkness, he could make out the faintest hint of the familiar landscape of the moon.
Joe tried to focus all of his concentration into his horn. He desperately called upon his magic but still he could not feel the light from within. In final desperation, Joe actually tried to force the portal close with his hooves. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not grasp any physical form of the portal. Tears streaked from Joe’s eyes as he punched the portal. The portal did nothing but still he punched it again. He punched it again and again and each time he grunted louder and louder until he ended up screaming at the top of his lungs as he attempted to pound the portal into submission.
He eventually gave up his pounding. Instead he slumped to the floor in front of the portal, his muzzle buried in his hooves.He breathed heavily as he sobbed uncontrollably. Joe was so occupied by his despair, he he didn't notice the swirling wisps of darkness swirling into his horn.
A splitting pain formed in Joe’s head. He clutched his temples tightly with his hooves and screamed out loud to drown out the pain in his brain.
“Shut up!” he yelled at the top of his lungs, but he couldn't even hear his own voice. The darkness was making noise. from every inch of the void, whispers flew about madly. The whispers were so collectively loud, Joe had to let go of his head and clamp his ears. But the voices were as loud as ever. “No! Go away! Shut up and leave me alone!” he screamed through his tears.
Joe collapse to a fetal position as he was overwhelmed by the pressure and the noise. The sobbing, hopeless wreck of a pony gave in to his helpless situation. All he could think about was how he messed up. The Nightmares were continuing to take over the tree and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He had failed to stop Nightfeather and the Nightmares. He had failed and now he couldn't save anyone. Donut Joe was the most worthless pony to have ever had the misfortune of being born.
Joe looked again towards the gaping portal to the Nightmare Dreamscape with his sapphire blue eyes and thin slits for pupils. Why did he even bother trying, he thought. He cursed the fact that everypony expected him to be the hero. He never asked to be the hero. Why should it be his responsibility? He never cared about Equestria. He never cared about anypony, not really. But those damned idiots wouldn't leave him in peace. Those selfish ponies deserved to have eternal nightmares. What would he care? In fact, Joe thought to himself as he narrowed his blue eyes and smiled, he would just laugh.Joe could just sit there and laugh as they all suffered. Then he would like to see what happens when they try and turn towards their ‘hero.’ No, Joe decided, I’m no hero. Instead he should be a king. He deserves it after all he had been through. Yes, he would be king. And from his throne he will laugh at those puny pathetic creatures. For he will be the king of the Nightmares, for he was Nightmare Joe!
Joe’s thoughts were interrupted by a blinding flash of light. He shielded his sapphire eyes from the intense brightness. Who would dare bring light into his lair? The light was burning and painful. He missed his beautiful, peaceful darkness. Joe took a step back against the light. He realized he was standing up, but he couldn't remember at what point he did that. He then noticed that his pain was gone. the bruises, sprains and burns had all healed. The whispering voices grew silent. With the voices gone, Joe could feel the pain fading from his brain. He messaged his temples and felt the pain melting away. He took a deep breath as he calmed his breathing. At least the light was warm. That darkness was so cold.
In fact, Joe was sick of stumbling around in the dark. He couldn't wait to open his eyes and see light once again. When Joe opened his emerald green eyes, the darkness was gone. There was not a nightmare creature in sight. The portal in the center of the chamber was gone. The tree had returned to normal as well with its white bark and silvery veins. There was still a glowing light though.
Joe looked to the ceiling and witnessed a shining ball of light slowly floating down to the chamber floor. As the orb grew closer, Joe saw what was in it. It was a pony, taller and slender than a typical pony. She had a pair of large wings fully stretched out and a great long horn which glowed with a brilliant blue light. The light matched her fur. It was the purest of deepest, soothing blues. Her main and tail her blue as well, but flowed like a liquid and twinkled like the night sky.
When the light surrounding Princess Luna faded, she serenely touched down to the ground and folded her wings. She smiled at Joe with the most welcoming and pleasant smile he had ever seen. He could help but smile back.
“Thank goodness.” she said in a youthful but heavenly voice, “I was worried that I would not arrive in time.”
Joe’s warm smile quickly faded as he recalled all that happened.
“Princess Luna, what’s going on? What happened to the nightmare forces?”
“It is my duty as Princess of the Night to enter the dreams of ponies and rid them of Nightmares.” He smile became playful and she gave Joe a wink.
Joe chuckled and smiled wide in return. “What kept you?”
“Now that the Nightfeather’s Dream Gate has been destroyed, I can resume this duty.” The Princess looked up and around and admired the tree. She approached the portion of the floor where the dragonfire had scorched the ground. She surrounded the scorch mark with her magic and it disappeared as if it were never there.
“It was destroyed?”
“Sky Blazer’s plan of fooling Nightfeather into believing the poison had worked allowed our forces to surround him. Those who had followed him are now either captured or dead.” She hung onto that last word with regretful sadness.
“What about the Nightmares”
“I have banished them back into the darkness from whence they came. Also I put a special seal on the portal they had created. They shall never be able to haunt this tree again. And what of Nightfeather’s minion?”
Joe looked around in sudden caution as if believing that remembering the Nightmare dragon would somehow bring it back. The tree was still as silent as ever and Joe smiled confidently. “He went up in smoke. So what happened to Nightfeather?”
Luna looked to the floor. Her eyes shut tight in anger and regret. “He used his followers as a distraction and evaded us. But he shall not get far!”
“And Spitfire?”
Luna looked to Joe with confused curiosity. “Why she is fine, of course. She is the one helped us switch the poison for a harmless gas. How did you persuade her to betray Nightfeather and contact me?”
Joe blinked a few times in confusion before smiling gently to himself. “I must have rekindled the fire within her.”
“Come, Donut Joe!” Luna said jubilantly, “I shall escort you out of the Dreamscape.”
Luna lit her horn and a glowing portal of light appeared in mid air. On the other side of the tear, Joe could see the Sacred Chamber of Luna’s Castle. Sky blazer was talking to a couple of Lunar Guards in armor different than those worn by Nightfeather’s soldiers. Sky must have noticed the portal as he turned to it and waved at Joe with a huge smile on his face.
Joe smiled back and allowed the tears to build in his eyes. “Princess Luna, I just have one more question.”
“And what might that be?” she asked, slightly taken aback.
“So why is the moon always visible in the NLR?”
Luna chuckled a bit before laughing loudly. Her jubilance was infectious, and Joe found himself laughing just as hard.